Police presence in Swieqi and other towns bordering entertainment hotspots needs to be “drastically” boosted, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said yesterday.

There are certain times of the week when crime and disturbances spike, and we need to address that

He said petty crime and neighbourhood disturbances in such areas meant they merited their own specific focus, as “buffer zones” of nearby entertainment hubs.

A Labour government would introduce harsher sentences for crimes against the elderly and legal protection against white-collar crime committed against vulnerable groups, including the disabled.

Vulnerable groups could be taken advantage of by professionals or even by their own family members, Dr Muscat said.

He argued that harsher sentences would send out a message that crimes against the elderly would not be tolerated.

Speaking in Swieqi, flanked by home affairs spokesman and MP Michael Falzon, Dr Muscat said residents had to put up with regular disturbances.

“Swieqi is not just another residential area,” he said.

“There are certain times of the week when crime and disturbances spike, and we need to address that.”

Residents have long complained they are ill-served by existing police arrangements and have called for a more regular police presence in the town, especially on weekends and public holidays.

Swieqi forms part of the St Julian’s precinct, which is responsible for dealing with Paceville-related incidents.

An analysis by The Times last year found each police officer in that precinct had to deal with approximately three times as many cases of theft, vandalism and bodily harm as a colleague in Birkirkara.