Gavin Gulia, the Labour Party’s spokesman for the interior, congratulated newly appointed police inspectors and wished them well in their career.

He then noted that the Labour Party was more than right to emphasise the fact that over the last 12 months, the police corps had lost many inspectors.

In fact, he added, no fewer than 15 inspectors had resigned, taking with them hundreds of years of experience. Many of them had not even been in the corps for 25 years. Some 80 sergeants and constables had left as well.

Dr Gulia said that just 32 days before the general election, the government has now appointed new inspectors. Truly a case of too little too late, he said.