The Parliamentary Secretariat for the EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds together with the Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security have announced that the Malta Police Force will be benefiting from over €550,000 of EU funding.

The Managing Authority has in fact approved projects for the Malta Police Force valued at around €556,769 - under the Internal Security Funds (ISF) programme 2014-2020 - aimed at strengthening police in fighting criminality and managing risk.

The projects include the purchase of wearable bullet-proof equipment to provide better protection for officers on duty, and additional radios for a more efficient exchange of information during assignments.

Minister for Home Affairs Carmelo Abela said that funds would also be allocated for the provision of security systems to reinforce the prevention of illegal activities and combat cross-border organised crime. He added that these newly allocated funds were part of a series of investments to enhance the capacities of the force in safeguarding national security.

Parliamentary Secretary for the EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds Ian Borg noted that this project will allow the Malta Police Force to benefit from more than half a million euros,  precisely 75% of which would be funded by the EU Internal Security Fund.  

Dr Borg said that Malta will be investing around €100 million under the Internal Security Fund (ISF) which aims to alleviate internal security and border controls. These funds will continue  building on the various other actions which were implemented in the past 2 years, said Parliamenatry Secretary Borg.

Minister Abela and Parliamentary Secretary Borg said they were committed to securing more funding, both from local and other EU programmes.

They expressed words of recognition for the work carried out by the Funds and Programme Division and the administration of the Police, who, through  their joint efforts, were implementing important projects in the field of internal security.

Photos by MHAS/MEAIM_PS