The Home Affairs Minister and the Acting Police Commissioner today defended an agreement that places the highest positions in the police force under temporary performance agreements which could be renewed. The Malta Police Force Association yesterday criticised the agreement and insisted that it undermined the Force, its independence, integrity and autonomy.
When asked about the issue this morning, Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia said the association's worries are valid and will be discussed. The main aim of the agreement was to avoid a situation where police officers stopped giving their utmost once they reached top positions within the force. He said there will be talks on the subject with the Malta Police Association.
Acting Police Commissioner Ray Zammit denied that the decision had been taken behind everyone's backs and insisted that there had been talks with senior officers within the force. Mr Zammit also defended the agreement which, he said, will raise the work output at the highest levels of the force.
The Malta Police Association said yesterday that it had not been consulted about the Addendum to the document regulating the conditions of service for the police force, signed by the principal permanent secretary Mario Cutajar and the permanent secretary in the Home Affairs Ministry on Wednesday.
In a statement sent through the association's lawyer Dr Robert Abela, the association said it objected to the agreement which stipulates that the highest three grades in the force - commissioner, deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner - will no longer be considered as grades, but whoever is occupying the posts will be employed as such through temporary performance agreements that could be renewed. This agreement means that the people occupying these posts will be under the effective control of the Executive, which will have the responsibility to decide whether the people occupying these posts will maintain their position or otherwise.
The association said that the police force cannot be compared with other civil service entities where performance agreements are in place. Police officers should not be hindered from doing their duties, knowing that they could be removed if they take a decision with which the Executive did not agree.
is new agreement undermines the foundations on which the police force was built, and this is its independence, integrity and autonomy, and it also weakens the trust the people have in the institution. This agreement is unprecedented and the association has requested an urgent meeting with the Police Negotiation Board to discuss the issue.