The long-awaited Swieqi police station will be opening today and officers will be carrying out foot patrols in a bid to stop the vandalism that recently plagued the area, Times of Malta has learnt.
Residents and local council members have been calling for their own police presence since 2012.
They have always argued it did not make sense that Swieqi formed part of the St Julian’s police precinct, which has to deal with entertainment hub Paceville apart from St Julian’s, Swieqi and Madliena.
Most of the police’s resources have been tied up in dealing with Paceville-related incidents that already overstretch their resources. This has left Swieqi, located on the periphery of Paceville, unmonitored.
The Sunday Times of Malta reported that this year alone 363 mobile phones were reported stolen in the St Julian’s area – the majority from bars and restaurants.
Figures obtained from the police had shown that over the past three years there were 14,124 theft reports filed at St Julian’s. Apart from that, police had to face reports of public disturbance and damage to private property, such as cars.
Over the past weeks the tyres of more than 30 cars were slashed in Swieqi – highlighting the urgency of having a focused police presence.
Now that the police station will open, the promised police foot patrols will fall under it.
Police cars and members of the rapid intervention unit will also be on the lookout.
Last week Times of Malta also reported that the new police presence may not be the only anti-crime measure to be introduced in the locality.
Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia is looking into tapping into EU funds to finance the introduction of a centralised CCTV system.
The cameras would be spread across the Swieqi-Ibraġ area and monitored from the Swieqi police station.
Mayor Noel Muscat had also said the local council would be discussing the possibility of setting up a neighbourhood watch.
The police station had been promised last year when the Swieqi Civic Centre was first opened by then prime minister Lawrence Gonzi in February 2013 – one month before the general election.
But, following a change in government, the council was never given permission to run the complex, which was meant to house the council’s offices, a free medical clinic, several social services, a post office and the police station.
In February this year the government re-inaugurated the civic centre and announced that the police station would soon be set up.