I wish to join in the condemnation of a statement, expressed in court and reported in The Times, in which a police officer said that Maltese people are afraid of going to Marsa as a result of criminal activity by migrants.

When I was a young teenager I used to attend the technical school at Paola. Being young and foolish, I often used to spend my daily allowance and not leave any money to take the two buses back home to Sliema. I used to walk through this area to get back home. When my father discovered what I was doing, he gave me a good telling off. I remember him telling me never to pass on foot through that part of Marsa, as it was a most dangerous area, frequented by criminals.

Since then, I have always been told even by some Marsa residents, that the area was full of pimps, prostitutes and thieves. It is also renowned for illegal gambling and dog fights.

Perhaps the police officer is young and does not know this area in Marsa, which is better known as Albert Town.

Stop blaming everything on the immigrants because, like the rest of us, there are good and bad persons in every race, creed and colour.