The Police have set up a new freephone telephone line on 119 to allow people to give them tip-offs and intelligence with the aim of preventing crime before it actually happens.

Police Commissioner John Rizzo explained to the media yesterday that the emergency number to report actual crimes was 112, but the police wanted to encourage the public to take an active part in crime prevention.

“We want to emphasise that we always respect people’s anonymity when they give us information. But we need that intelligence. Criminals are a minority in this country and if only we band together to fight crime, I am sure that we can drive the crime rate down,” said Mr Rizzo.

Mr Rizzo said he greatly admired people who came forward to give information. He said the police had put on-line a system through which people can report crime, file complaints or even make commendations, and which was proving to be very popular.

“We are also setting up an e-mail account and an sms number to which people can send us tip-offs about various crimes or suspicions which they have,”said Mr Rizzo.

The Police Commissioner said that “we are sure that this will help us no end as people can then just help us out wherever they may be or from the comfort of their own homes,” said Mr Rizzo.

Mr Rizzo said that the public itself contributes, to a certain extent, to crime in general. He explained: “For example, we sometimes carry bags loosely over the shoulder, or we park in a dark alley or carry a lot of cash on our person. These are all opportunities for criminals and we should not present them with such.”

He said that for this reason, the police have produced some television information spots on the matter in an effort to educate the public on the unwitting danger they put themselves in.

Mr Rizzo explained that over the past couple of weeks he had received three reports of stolen cars. “And do you know how they were stolen? The drivers left their keys in the ignition while they nipped into a shop,” he said.

He also spoke about the issue of enforcing hunting and trapping regulations. “Obviously if someone perpetrates a crime, they take it against us when we catch them. But people must realise that whatever the laws stipulate, we must enforce. That is what our job is all about, we cannot close an eye to things just because we feel we should, or vice versa,” he said.

Mr Rizzo said that one way forward was definitely the introduction of CCTV cameras. “We brokered a deal with shop owners in Republic Street to ensure that there is adequate coverage of the area and it has definitely helped to drive down crime,” he said.

The Malta Independent also queried whether neighbourhood watch schemes were working. “No. They are virtually inexistent and those that do operate are merely in name only. We need to be more vigilant and we need to share information. People living in the same road should speak up if they see strangers in their area. It can help prevent things such as arson attacks,” said Mr Rizzo.

He said that people in Malta tended to trust too much, even though things are not the same as they were 50 years ago, when people felt safe sleeping with their front door open to allow a breeze into the house.

Mr Rizzo said the introduction of legislation to automatically hold people on remand if they breached bail conditions proved to be a good tonic for demoralised police officers.

“There is nothing worse in our job than solving a crime, then watching the accused get bail and go out and immediately commit another offence. It has definitely helped,” he said.

TMID also queried the issue of loitering for purposes of prostitution. “Quite frankly it is a waste of time. We go, we raid, we take them to court and they get a reprimand. It is a real waste of time. But again, we are obliged to act within the parameters of the law,” Mr Rizzo said.

He said that the police are obliged to do their duty, especially due to the large number of complaints they receive from Gzira residents.

“Can you imagine what they have to put up with every day, when they take their children out to go to school or when simply going to the shops,” he said?

Mr Rizzo said that as much as the police were there to enforce the law, the courts had the obligation to judge people according to the same laws. “Perhaps it is time to review legislation, but in the meantime, the police will continue to operate within the parameters of the law,” said Mr Rizzo.

TMID also asked Mr Rizzo whether he thought the trend of child abuse was on the increase or whether it was merely a case of children having acquired a voice and are now reporting abuse.

“You have hit the nail on the head. In the past, things used to be kept quiet. But nowadays, children are told where to report such matters and they have a much higher level of awareness than in the past,” said Mr Rizzo. He said that there were even instances where families have tried to cover up abuse, only for the victim to report it as soon as they turn 18.