As the peak of summer approaches, Swieqi residents are bracing themselves for the worst and will this evening hold a demonstration and meet their councillors to discuss curbing crime in the locality.
Year in, year out, Swieqi residents have to put up with fighting, shouting and swearing in the streets below, with the noise of revving cars in the early hours and the discovery of smashed car door mirrors the following morning.
The list goes on, and includes human excrement on front door steps and syringes left in drive-ins, resident JeanPaul Barthet told this newspaper.
The town is cursed by its location, as a stream of young people pass through it on the way to the Paceville entertainment hub.
The town is cursed by its location
Swieqi residents say they are constantly on edge as the town’s crime rate shoots up, already estimated to be double the Maltese average. The burglary rate alone is five times the national average. Last year, a police station was inaugurated but a promise to introduce foot patrols did not materialise.
This evening, the residents will be voicing their concerns in a street demonstration that will start at 7pm from Swieqi Road corner with Triq l-Ilqugħ.
They will walk to the local council offices with a list of four recommendations which they believe would deter crime and unruly behaviour.
One of the proposals is for the introduction of residential or timed parking similar to that in Paceville and Valletta. If coupled with strict enforcement, they say this would reduce the number of cars parked in Swieqi owned by non-residents on their way to Paceville, who would probably start using the Pembroke park-and-ride facilities instead.
The residents are also suggesting there should also be security camera surveillance at key points along frequently used roads, crossroads and corners. This system is already used by the wardens monitoring illegal parking.
A third proposal is for constant and consistent police patrol, and not just the odd police car driving through Swieqi Road, Triq is-Sidra or Triq il-Ħemel.
The residents are also insisting that foreign language schools be held responsible and accountable for the behaviour of their students and if need be fined over and above any fines given to students found guilty of unruly behaviour.