Interrogations at four police stations can now be recorded to be used in court as specifically-designed rooms have been equipped with audiovisual equipment.

Addressing journalists this morning, Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said that while in the past statements given at police stations were written out, the new systems enable officers to record the whole session.

The first stations to have such rooms are the ones in Mosta, Mtarfa, Żejtun and Paola.

“These rooms, which have been designed in a way that facilitate interrogations, will allow officers to not only monitor what is being said from another room. The statement could also be used at a later stage by both the police and the accused,” Mr Abela said.

This, he went on, will allow the police to not only rely on what was said verbally but also analyse the person’s body language. In cases where accused claims to have been subject to mistreatment, the videos could also be used, Mr Abela went on.

In the coming week, other stations, especially those in Gozo, will be equipped with such rooms, the Minister added, with Ħamrun, Sliema and Qawra among the next localities where stations will be upgraded to include such rooms.

Officers can also monitor interrogations as they unfold.