Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia was yesterday unclear on whether the findings of two inquiries concluded months ago would be published or not, saying he was still going through them.

An inquiry into a decision by former police commissioner Peter Paul Zammit to drop charges against a man who had allegedly assaulted four officers at the Żabbar police station in 2013 was concluded at the end of July and the report submitted to the minister.

A ministry spokeswoman said in June the findings would be published. However, when Times of Malta spoke to Dr Mallia last month about the inquiry findings, he said a decision on whether to publish or not would be taken when the conclusions were evaluated. He had also said he had found no time to look into the report because he had been abroad.

I can assure you that these inquiries are being analysed

The other inquiry was ordered in September 2013 following a police blunder which led to the wrong man being arraigned over a hold-up at a Birkirkara confectionery.

The former police commissioner had ordered an internal inquiry and the findings were submitted two weeks later. Mr Zammit had promised the conclusions would be made public to put people’s minds at rest.

However, so far, both inquiries remain under wraps and questions sent to the home affairs ministry last week remained unanswered. This newspaper therefore opted to take up the matter directly with Dr Mallia during the opening of a mobile police station in Marsascala yesterday.

“I can assure you that these inquiries are being analysed,” Dr Mallia said.

Asked about the apparent slow progress in evaluating the findings, he said that, as minister, he had to look at various aspects and seek advice on them accordingly.

However, it remains unclear whether the reports would be published. The minister first would not commit himself on the matter but then remarked: “when the reports are published you will know.”

The minister remarked that Times of Malta seemed more interested in other matters than in the event he was attending. Dr Mallia also asked the journalist where he was employed before joining Times of Malta.

“Why, what difference does it make,” the journalist replied.

“I would like to know. What’s wrong if I ask you a question,” the minister added.

The journalist informed Dr Mallia that he had previously worked for the Nationalist Party media, at which point the conversation came to an abrupt end.

Earlier, the minister, who was also accompanied by his wife and daughter, said that the mobile station would strengthen police presence in Marsascala and that a similar one would be opened in Paceville

He noted that, in recent months, there had been a decline in the number of thefts in the Marsascala district but cases of assault against police officers were on the rise.