A small group of Romanian gypsies were to blame for a crime wave sweeping Sliema and St Julians, a police inspector said yesterday as he arraigned a couple for theft.

Whenever members of the group were under arrest the rate of crime fell, Police Inspector Trevor Micallef said as he argued against bail being granted to Geani Roberto Marin, 30 and Georgina Elena Chiuc, 21.

Mr Marin is pleading not guilty to breaking into two shops and stealing clothes.

Ms Chiu denied being an accomplice.

The inspector’s strong words prompted defence lawyer Anthony Farrugia to argue that he was “attacking” the group just because they were Romanian.

The lawyer argued the inspector could not make such arguments in court without being backed up by statistics.

In reply, the inspector said he was not a racist and did not want to sound like one but statistics had proved him right.

He added that the case only came to light when the owner of the flat the accused were living in asked for police assistance to evict them because they owed rent.

Inspector Micallef said he could not understand how the accused could live day in, day out without money.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke remanded them in custody.