The largest intake of police recruits ever was registered yesterday, with Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg saying this reflected the government’s intention of strengthening the police. The minister was speaking during a meeting with the 135 new recruits, who represent eight per cent of the police force.

Dr Borg said the course for the recruits was the 27th since the Police Academy was founded in 1988 and 1,585 recruits have been trained at the academy since. Dr Borg said the academy was founded with the aim of training new recruits in view of their future work as policemen, fighting criminality.

Recruits are trained in academic subjects as well as on a practical basis. In addition, they spend time at police stations in order to get used to the working environment they would be exposed to. Recruits also do community work, especially at crèches.

The Police Academy offers continuous training to all police members in order to update them. The academy often works with foreign police forces on specific topics such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, contraband, and fraud, especially through IT.

The academy has widened its curriculum by holding meetings with the country’s three branches: the judiciary, legislative and executive branches.