It has dawned on the government there is glaring public disregard to law and order in some localities. It might have thought perhaps that the problem would resolve itself without any official intervention. It has not. If anything, it has become worse.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, facing pressure from a string of communities now becoming increasingly concerned about lawlessness, has suddenly come out declaring that his government intends putting its foot down. Most, but particularly those living in neighbourhoods feeling the impact of such lawlessness, would welcome action to bring the situation in their localities back to normal. But in launching what looks like an aggressive law and order drive, the Prime Minister has a personal problem of credibility.

When he first referred to law and order, he might have had in mind criminal activities or, simply, wayward behavioural attitude in public places. Writing in The Sunday Times of Malta, Home Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia has confirmed this too. It is naturally essential to stem these but law and order extends also to other not-so-visible actions. Dr Muscat did not set a very good example when he kept his chief of staff and a minister in his Cabinet despite the fact they were found to have secret companies in offshore tax havens. He certainly was not leading by example.

He is now trying to justify his action by claiming that, once his party has been re-elected, the people have sort of sanctioned their misdeed. It may be true that corruption, lack of good governance and misdemeanors figured prominently in the election campaign but the party’s re-election neither justifies wrongdoing nor absolves the wrongdoers. So, when Dr Muscat says that “we have to stop this idea that some people have of being able to do whatever they want and get away with it” he would do well to first look into the mirror.

Dr Muscat said his government wanted to send out a clear message that it would no longer tolerate abuse and that the “efforts” being made in Marsa would serve as a pilot project for other localities, such as Ħamrun, Birżebbuġa, Qawra, and Buġibba.

He was interpreted as having been referring to newspaper reports of plans for soldiers to start patrolling streets in certain areas known for lawlessness, particularly, as it is understood, migrant neighbourhoods. The Home Affairs Minister has now clarified the government is not excluding the possibility that Armed Forces of Malta personnel will assist in patrolling hotspots if asked to do so.

The police and the army have specific and distinct roles to fulfil and this distinction could be blurred if soldiers were to be unwisely used for police work. The authorities must tread carefully on this because wrong use of the armed forces could harm Malta’s image as a holiday destination. As an entrepreneur put it, police presence gives a sense of comfort but deploying the army goes beyond that and may create a sense of danger. Creating what might appear to be “war zones” will not be a good idea. That should be done only in exceptional cases, in emergency situations or where the police cannot cope.

The least the country expects is that any action taken would not do more harm than good.

This is a Times of Malta print editorial