All visitors, including foreign dignitaries, are being asked to hand over their personal mobile phones to a receptionist before entering Foreign Minister George Vella’s office, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt.

The spokesman said that this ‘security’ measure was imposed by Dr Vella

This procedure, a first for a Maltese ministry, was introduced as soon as Dr Vella took over Palazzo Parisio in Valletta’s Merchants Street after being appointed minister two months ago.

Ministry insiders told this newspaper the minister took the step because he wanted to ensure he was not covertly recorded during the course of private conversations, even though officially the ministry is citing “security reasons”.

Confirming the new policy, a ministry spokesman said mobile phones are banned only from the minister’s office and not from the rest of the building. The rule is being applied to anybody who enters Dr Vella’s office, irrespective of their position.

The ministry spokesman specified that this “security” measure was imposed by Dr Vella and was not government policy.

Asked to explain the security threat that a mobile phone could pose to a minister inside his office and not in other offices of the same building, the spokesman said: “It’s up to the minister to decide.”

Last week, Times of Malta had a direct experience of Dr Vella’s new policy, after the newspaper probed the minister’s potential breach in the code of ethics after it emerged he continues to see patients on Saturday mornings (without remuneration).

Asked why the reporter was being asked to hand over his mobile, the receptionist promptly replied: “Orders from above”.

When Dr Vella was confronted about the matter during the interview, he said he was the minister and so he was entitled to make the rules.

Security at government buildings in other EU member states is high and visitors normally have to pass through a series of security measures, including metal detectors. But there are no requirements to hand over items such as mobile phones.