The local warden system should be phased out and replaced by community police constables and officers whom residents can refer to, according Alternattiva Demokratika.

At a press conference in Attard yesterday on law enforcement, AD chairman Harry Vassallo said enforcement has been reduced to wardens dishing out traffic fines.

"It's a shame that law enforcement is just seen as a source of profit for private companies," Dr Vassallo said, adding that policing should be a prerogative of the state.

Instead of "some private guard company interested in making money out of fines", towns and villages should have local police who take care of law enforcement".

It would be the police's duty to follow up each report and not simply refer people to the authorities. "All too often people are sent from one authority to another when they file reports to the police.

"They are frequently told the police have no resources to open all police stations or to react quickly and promptly to what are said to be 'irrelevant' and 'petty' issues."

The AD chairman said people felt isolated when they turned to the police to report vandalism, people making a nuisance at night, disregard of building regulations and public health issues.

Local councils should be given an overseeing function, together with additional powers to demand enforcement by local police on such matters as trading licences, building regulations, littering and vandalism.

On the other hand, local police should be protected from direct interference through an independent commission reporting directly to Parliament, Dr Vassallo said.