New Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit believes his experience as a legal procurator will help him address the “shortcomings” in the police force to which he now returns in the driver’s seat.
Where there are many people, there are many problems
Mr Zammit spent 25 years in the police, including 10 years as a prosecuting officer, but left in 2009 to set up a legal practice.
This experience helped him view the justice system from “both sides”, prosecution and defence.
“It made me conscious of the police’s involuntary shortcomings as well as the involuntary shortcomings of the public towards the police,” he told The Sunday Times yesterday, a day after his appointment was announced.
Mr Zammit, 52, vowed to build on all the good aspects of the police force while correcting anything that needs to be corrected.
“There are a lot of issues that need to be resolved... where there are many people, there are many problems,” he said, when asked about the situation in the police force.
“But I know I will have the necessary help from the Government to face these challenges.”
Mr Zammit said technological advances and the global economic climate have contributed to big developments when it comes to fraud and online criminal activity, bringing more sophisticated techniques to crime.
The police had to respond with new ways of investigating which also had to keep in mind the ever-increasing rights of all human beings, including suspects.
“All these things are changing the way investigations are carried out,” he said, highlighting the importance of everyone being treated with their deserved dignity.
Mr Zammit was on Friday evening given a handover from his predecessor John Rizzo, who will now head the Civil Protection Department (CPD) after 12 years serving in the top position.
“Mr Rizzo and I were friends. The fact that I must now fill his shoes means nothing but continuity,” he said, adding that he had been given a good handover.
“I have been given the material I need to continue all the necessary investigations,” he said.
Asked what would happen to cases that were investigated by Mr Rizzo himself, such as the case involving former European Health Commissioner John Dalli, Mr Zammit said: “The investigations will continue.”
“I have no reason or intention to stop any investigation, including the case of John Dalli or anyone else. The job of the police is not to halt an investigation but to carry the investigation out fully in the interests of justice and truth.”
He said the final aim of the police was to bring out the truth, not simply to arraign people in court, which is simply the last major step in the process.
Mr Zammit also underlined his commitment to tackling unsolved crimes, many of which he had worked on himself in the past.
Asked about the Government’s plan to allow police to join a union of their choice, Mr Zammit said he had written publicly about this issue and always believed this was a police right that was respected around Europe. He stressed that police would still be prevented from striking.
Asked about the relationship between police and the press, which has been strained in recent years, Mr Zammit said he believed in the media and wanted to help it give out truthful information.
“Even bad media has a role, so imagine media which collaborate with the organs of the state.”
Two of Mr Zammit’s most prominent cases during his time as Superintendent include the case against far-rightist Norman Lowell for inciting racial hatred and another case against 35 Eastern European women who were charged with indecent acts at two gentleman’s clubs.
Movers and shakers
The position of Police Commissioner was originally offered to Assistant Commissioner Pierre Calleja, but he turned it down, The Sunday Times is informed.
Meanwhile, Patrick Murgo, who used to head the CPD that will now be headed by the former Police Commissioner, was officially offered the position of Director, Implementation of Reforms, within the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Security.
If he were to take up this position he would be responsible for the implementation of reforms related to the prisons, the CPD, fireworks factories, expats and citizenship, and the detention centres which house irregular immigrants.
Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Cassar, 56, has been appointed head of the Security Service.
John Rizzo, while heading the CPD, will also advise the Government on internal security issues.