The government has taken no concrete action that would allow policemen to join a union, although an impression to the contrary was being given, Labour Party spokesman Michael Falzon said.

Dr Falzon said in a statement that the minister had only presented a note to the clerk of the House of Representatives for the first reading of the law to be moved in Parliament.

But although the issue had been coming for years, no concrete action had as yet been taken.

There were no details and no one knew what was to be proposed.

No bill or white paper had been published and the Malta Police Association was not consulted.

It seemed that the government was just reacting chaotically to the pressure it was facing.