Update 3.04pm - Adds video
Some 41 tourism police finished their training today and will begin rounds in Sliema and St Julian's this afternoon.
The police officers went through several weeks of training at the tourism institute and at the Police Training Academy at Ta Kandja.
Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said during the certification ceremony today that the officers had all the powers and responsibilities of ordinary policemen with the added duty to inform tourists of tourism related offences, as well as be on the look out for such infractions.
Photo: Reuben Piscopo, DOIMr Abela said the assigned areas were known for particular offenses which he hoped would to be addressed thanks to continuous rounds by this new force.
The officers, who will be working on extra duty, will patrol the tourism hotspots between 2pm and 2am in shifts of four. They will also be given electronic vehicles for use on the beat.
Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis also attended this morning's event. He said August alone was expected to attract some quarter of a million tourist arrivals.
This increased burden meant more officers were required to keep the peace and fight crime, he said.