Police officers expressed an interest to join it once the necessary changes in the law were made, the General Workers’ Union said.

As things stand, the law does not allow police officers to be unionised. Earlier this year, the government opened the door to the idea following a declaration by the police association that officers wished to join a union but this was not motivated by the desire to have a right to strike. Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Justice Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici said that, while recognising that the wish of police officers to join a union deserved attention, one had to tread cautiously and keep in mind that any decisions taken would “last forever”.

Reacting, the GWU said it backed the police association’s request for officers to be unionised. It pointed out that throughout the year it had held seminars and made appeals to the government to give members of the police force the right to join a trade union.

Several police officers had expressed interest in joining the union and “tens of members of the disciplined forces” had filled in a GWU application and were waiting for amendments to the law.