The meme uploaded by the 12-year-old on his Facebook account a few days ago says ‘You will never catch me!’Police Commissioner Michael Cassar is defending the controversial decision to arraign four officers in court for allegedly using excessive force on a 12-year-old boy caught driving.
The police chief was reacting to criticism by the Police Officers Union which branded the decision “ridiculous” and said it would only serve to demoralise its members and make them reluctant to take action fearing possible repercussions. Meanwhile, an online petition urging the authorities to drop the case had already garnered 1,800 signatures by yesterday afternoon.
The incident, which happened in November, stirred a debate, as some days later the boy was again caught behind the wheel and involved in a car chase with the police. In a Facebook post uploaded on his account a few days ago, the boy posted a meme of a toddler in a toy car being chased by police cars saying “You will never catch me!”
Asked for his reaction during a recorded interview broadcast this morning during the programme Għandi x’Ngħid on Radio Malta, the police commissioner rejected the union’s criticism.
With all due respect, Inspector Sandro Camilleri is supposed to limit his comments to trade union issues
He said the decision to press charges had been taken on the advice of the Attorney General on the strength of the evidence gathered during the investigation. The AG recommended taking criminal action rather than dealing with the matter internally.
“With all due respect, Inspector Sandro Camilleri [POU president] is supposed to limit his comments to trade union issues, but it could be he does not know where to draw a line,” the commissioner said.
“Maybe the concept of a police trade union is still new,” Mr Cassar added.
Asked about possible disciplinary action against the officers, the commissioner said the decision would be in the hands of the Public Service Commission, on the basis of the court’s decision.
On his part the POU president expressed his doubts on the case pointing out that the injury suffered by the boy was compatible with that of somebody who had hit his head against a steering wheel.
Pointing out that the boy’s mother was not interested in pressing charges against the police, Insp. Camilleri said it was wrong to charge officers capriciously and then leave the matter to the courts. “How could he have been caught joyriding again just three days after the first incident if he had been badly beaten?” the union asked.
The POU recalled how the first time he was detained the boy had kicked the car door open hurting one of the officers involved. It also called on the government to introduce body cameras for officers who are constantly on the beat.