Carmelo Abela says his calm demeanour should not be mistaken for weakness as he pledges to resolve the problems in the police force.

The police corps is demoralised and lacks public confidence, Mr Abela says, adding he is determined to address the problem of mistrust.

“I don’t think people’s lack of trust in the police started after this incident [the shooting incident involving a minister’s driver] or on March 2013. It has long been coming but this case, without minimising the gravity of what happened, did not help.”

The newly appointed Home Affairs Minister acknowledges his character may give rise to a perception of meekness but tells The Sunday Times of Malta he will take action to stop wrongdoing.

The police corps is demoralised and lacks public confidence

“I may be quiet and calm but I am not naive and anybody with ill-intentions will not find my backing even if it means paying a political price.”

Sitting in his still barren office, bar a lone desk frame with a family photo, Mr Abela says the task ahead is not easy. And as he settles down, he will face requests from the media to publish two inquiries ordered by his predecessor.

The first inquiry involves the mistaken arraignment of Darryl Luke Borg and the second an incident at the Żabbar police station, in which it is alleged former police commissioner Peter Paul Zammit dropped the charges against a man who attacked a police officer. Times of Malta had been asking former home affairs minister Manuel Mallia for months to publish the inquiries to no avail.

Mr Abela says he has not yet seen the inquiry reports. “I have asked for them to be on my desk but in principle I believe that such inquiries should be published,” he says.

While insisting his responsibility is to give direction and ensure policy decisions are implemented, Mr Abela says a team effort is needed.

He inherits a police force subjected to ridicule and shame after a shooting incident involving Dr Mallia’s security driver.

On Wednesday – his first full day in office – Mr Abela visited police headquarters away from the media glare to meet the new Police Commissioner and other officials.

My drivers will not be carrying a weapon

He is worried about the leaked recordings of telephone conversations that took place with the police control room.

“They may have instilled fear that confidential information shared by ordinary individuals could end up in the public domain.”

But Mr Abela refuses to dwell at length on the problems, insisting it is his job to instil courage among police officers.

The project to change things around may have to be longer than the end of this legislature, he adds. “It is definitely not a solo effort.”

He says police officers need continuous training, acknowledging police work is “a calling” and not any other job. “I don’t exclude [the low] pay is an issue but for someone who loves his job a low wage will not stop that person from showing commitment,” he says with a hint of introspection.

Mr Abela’s appointment as minister means his take-home pay will drop by a third to €46,500 from €73,000 he earned as government spokesman, parliamentary Whip and MP.

“If money was a consideration I would have rejected the Prime Minister’s offer but I felt he was putting his trust in me at a time of need,” Mr Abela says.

Mr Abela still has to appoint his secretariat but has already taken the decision not to have police officers as drivers.

“The police have better things to do, which also means that my drivers will not be carrying a weapon,” he says with a telling smile.