The name of the first ever police force CEO will be announced in the coming weeks, pending a number of “administrative issues” which still need to be ironed out, Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said this evening
Addressing a press conference prior to the start of the parliamentary debate on the Police Bill, Mr Abela said that the process to select the right candidate among 21 applicants had been completed.
“I have already expressed my wish to have the new CEO in place by the end of the year or at least to announce the identity person who will occupy this post by this deadline,” the minister said.
Under this Bill the CEO who shall report to the police commissioner will be responsible for all operational and administrative matters, excluding policing related activities.
Asked why the government had forged ahead with the selection process, even though the Bill had not yet been approved by Parliament, Mr Abela said that such policy had been endorsed by the two police unions and had been announced in the Budget speech of two years ago.
As for the Bill itself, the Home Affairs Minister said that its aim was to overhaul the outdated police force structure and widen the decision-making process.
In the latter case, it is being proposed to have a five-member Police Governance Board who shall be responsible for the strategic direction of the force. Apart from the chairperson who will be appointed by the Prime Minister in consultation with the minister, the remaining members will be experts in the fields of policing, strategic management, criminology, public administration and criminal justice. The commission and CEO will be ex officio members, meaning they would be allowed to attend meetings but have no voting rights.
However, the minister would have the final say on the strategy and direction of the force which the board is expected to present. Furthermore, the board will be also compiling an annual report, which would be tabled in Parliament. In such manner there would be more accountability, as the report’s findings would be the basis of a parliamentary debate, Mr Abela said.
Moreover, it is being proposed to change the name of the police board, so as not to confuse it with the aforementioned governance board. By law the police board which is presided by a retired judge is tasked to look into complaints filed by both the public and officers.
The home affairs minister also noted that disciplinary measures would remain the prerogative of the Commissioner.
Another change is to replace the existing internal affairs unit with a similar entity which will also have the power to carry out audits.