The police force would likely fail a public trust poll today but the government is committed to turning things around, according to Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela.
“Yes, the result would be negative. It would probably fail and this is not something that has occurred overnight, but we want to address it,” he told The Sunday Times of Malta.
Dr Abela was reacting to the findings of an inquiry, published on Thursday, which cast a shadow over two police officers and their father, former acting police commissioner Ray Zammit.
The inquiry report by retired judge Michael Mallia exposed “dangerous” business liaisons between the Zammit family members and “dubious” nightclub owner Hugo Chetcuti as well as the Gaffarena business family.
The Gaffarenas, he said, had been at the centre of a “compromised” murder investigation headed by former police inspector Daniel Zammit.
However, Dr Abela declined to comment on the inquiry’s findings, saying this had now been handed over to the Attorney General and Police Commissioner for any necessary action.
But he did react to remarks that the police force is losing credibility.
‘Police will face action’
While accepting that the current situation is not ideal, Dr Abela said problems in the force had long existed. “I disagree with the phrase: ‘bad perception at the moment’. After all, when it comes to this inquiry and other issues, we are often talking about things that happened years ago,” he said, quick to add that he did not want to “hide behind any pointed fingers”.
He pointed out the government had pledged to “modernise” the police force. This did not simply mean buying new equipment, but improving the police’s track record of transparency and accountability.
“Believe me, I know this isn’t easy. I’m in it,” he said.
Asked if he thought future governments would one day be blaming this administration’s failure to clean out the police force, Dr Abela said he was sleeping easy because he knew he was genuinely trying to improve the situation.
“If the situation isn’t different at the end of the five years, then you will be right,” he said.
Dr Abela said there needed to be a “culture shift” which showed officers the status quo would not be accepted and that strict action would be taken against wrongdoers.
Cassar vow
Police Commissioner Michael Cassar is not limiting himself to the findings of an inquiry into the Zammit family as police investigations could yield new evidence.
“This is not a ‘no end in sight’ investigation. It won’t be something that maybe finishes sometime in the [distant] future. If there is something then we will find it,” he said.
Mr Cassar was reacting to the findings of an inquiry by retired judge Michael Mallia, which concluded there were undisclosed business dealings between police inspector Daniel Zammit and the Gaffarena family.
The inquiry also exposed business ties between his brother, acting police inspector Roderick Zammit, and local business leaders, as well as the involvement of their father, former acting police commissioner Ray Zammit.
Mr Cassar told this newspaper investigators were exploring all avenues which could expose further irregularities committed by the Zammits.
The inquiry had suggested disciplinary measures should be taken against Roderick Zammit after he got involved in business ventures without the go-ahead from the force’s top brass.
The law prohibits officers from any activity likely to interfere with their work unless written permission is obtained from the Police Commissioner.
Asked why Roderick Zammit had not been suspended from duty pending disciplinary measures, Mr Cassar said not all cases merited such action.
Times of Malta yesterday reported that Mr Cassar had issued a circular to officers instructing them to declare all financial assets in the days prior to the inquiry’s publication.
Mr Cassar said there would be no concessions or amnesties for police officers who engaged in undisclosed business dealings while serving in the force.
“There’s a difference between an insignificant part-time job, and bigger interests, but we will have to look into each case,” he said, adding he had not yet received any declarations.