Shadow home affairs minister Jason Azzopardi said that while he condemns any violence on public officers, especially police officers in their line of duty, he abhors and just as severely condemns any illegal and abusive aggressive behaviour committed by those who should uphold the law.
Dr Azzopardi had presented a Private Members Bill in parliament proposing much more severe punishments against those found guilty of having committed such aggression, violence or threats on public officers. He said the Opposition's stand is zero tolerance against such inexcusable behaviour.
Dr Azzopardi was reacting to the article published in The Malta Independent on Sunday which quoted the partner of a Briton who claimed he was beaten by police while in their custody.
The man, Paul Allen Sneddon, stands accused of injuring police officers in St Paul’s Bay two Sundays ago. He was released on bail on Friday after having been remanded in custody by a court a day after the incident. His partner, Polish born Agnes Koba, told this newsroom, soon after the court sitting, that Mr Sneddon was beaten and strangled by police. Mr Sneddon also claimed in court that he was beaten by police.
The police declined to comment for the time being since investigations are still ongoing and a court case being heard. The prosecuting inspector , Godwin Scerri, however did state in court that Mr Sneddon has a bad temper and is a danger to himself and society and should be seen by a psychologist. He also said that Mr Sneddon was injured in a separate incident before the incident ensued between the accused and the police.
Dr Azzopardi said: “The significant protection the law extends to public officers in the course of their line of duty should go hand in hand with a zealous and lawful exercise of the significant powers of arrest that the police have.”
Dr Azzopardi said that the story was very disturbing, urging the Minister for Home Affairs, Emmanuel Mallia, to order a public inquiry to establish the truth, without fear or favour.
“The quest for truth in these cases should not be underestimated since if, the one hand, the allegations of Police misbehaviour are based on the truth, then that is unacceptable in any society based on the rule of law where no one is above the law and the law should come down hard on the culprits.
“But if on the other hand these allegations turn out to be false, then the appropriate legal steps against who proffered them need to be immediately taken since they unjustly tarnish the image of the Corps and are grossly unfair on the law abiding, discretion wielding police officers who are so exemplary even when provoked,” Dr Azzopardi said.