The Marsa police station will be open 24 hours a day, with a large number of new recruits that are scheduled to graduate in the coming days joining the precinct, Home Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia announced at a press conference in front of the Marsa local council.
Farrugia revealed that soldiers will also be used for patrols and that a resident inspector will also be stationed in Marsa, which will allow the area to no longer on neighbouring localities such as Hamrun.
New by-laws banning the drinking of alcohol on the streets will be introduced.
Tensions have been high within the locality over the last couple of months, with critics arguing that the failed, or non-existent, integration policy of both the PN and PL administrations, has lead to increased crime in the area with residents having serious concerns over their personal safety.
This culminated with a protest last September, which was criticized for allegedly being hi-jacked by far-right political groups.
The Minister said that 2018 will not only see an increase in police presence in the area, along with other hot spots, such as Birzebbugia, Qawra, and Hamrun; but will also be supported by an integration plan.
He revealed that his ministry specifically will be provided with 2 million euro in EU funds to deal with the issue.
He also hinted that 2018 will see government introduce policy which will grant some sort of legal pathway to gainful employment for irregular migrants.
Farrugia was clear that the issues in Marsa were not simply due to the concentration of migrants in the area, pointing to figures which show that it is predominantly the Maltese population who commits crime in the area.
A few weeks ag, Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia had visited the Marsa police station while holding an activity in the locality, only to find it closed. He had appealed to the government to have the station open at all times.