Victims of crime are to be given a greater voice and financial assistance by right under a new Bill.

Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said in Parliament the Bill also proposed professional measures in a bid to achieve reconciliation between the victim and aggressor.

The rights of victims of crime had not been acknowledged for many years, increasing their hardship, he noted. People from his ministry had recently met Victim Support Malta and their proposals were being evaluated. Part of the income from paid work carried out by prison inmates went into a bank for victims of crime. It had to be ensured they were ready to reintegrate into society at the end of their sentence.

New prison officials were teaching inmates trades, with 100 inmates attending in-house courses, some leading to O levels. Nine were attending post-secondary courses and about 30 were working in the community.