Labour MP Gavin Gulia, party main spokesman for the interior, has repeated his claim that the police corps was demoralised, and added that a superintendent had just resigned and a woman inspector had gone out on long leave and would most likely resign, while three other inspectors were in the posting pool.

This aggravated the crisis in the inspector grade of the police, he said, forecasting more resignations, including that of an assistant commissioner.

Dr Gulia said that this confirmed his claim that there was lethargy and demoralisation in the corps. In 1998, 54 policemen had resigned, but that figure had risen to over 200 between 2004 and 2006.

To make the crisis worse, he added, four sergeants in the police Prosecutions Office who had graduated as lawyers have not applied to fill the vacant positions of inspector because of the conditions imposed by the government.

The most professional people in the police, Dr Gulia said, were being neglected and ignored by the government, and this was detrimental to the service.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued last night, the Justice Ministry said that it is not true that a female superintendent has tendered her resignation. In fact, a female police superintendent is presently being monitored by the Medical Board due to health reasons.

The ministry said that there is also no indication that a female police inspector has tendered her resignation. There is only a female inspector on leave for 12 days, and this is normal in a government department, the ministry added.

Regarding the three inspectors that Dr Gulia said are in the “posting pool”, two are undergoing procedures by the medical board due to health reasons, while another has recently been assessed by the board as not being capable of continuing his role in the Police Corps.

While it is true that an assistant commissioner has requested to leave the Corps after he finishes 25 years of service, another assistant commissioner has asked to remain in the Corps for another year after he reaches the pensionable age, that is, after he reaches the age of 61.

A number of other members of the Corps have forwarded similar requests to stay on in the Corps after reaching the age of retirement.

The ministry said that there are no indications that the number of officers who are requesting to leave the Police Corps is higher than usual.