In the wake of the removal of Ray Zammit as Acting Police Commissioner, career policeman Michael Cassar was approached to take on the job as Police Commissioner. He explains his reasons for taking up the government’s offer to Rachel Attard. Photos Jonathan Borg.

Michael Cassar cuts a serious figure. His uniform is immaculate and his expression gives away nothing. Until he smiles to greet you, that is. After exchanging a few pleasantries, it’s down to business as we sit at his new desk at the Police General Headquarters.

When and by whom were you called to ask you if you want to be appointed as the new Police Commissioner? Did you make any conditions?

The Prime Minister called me last Monday and told me that he wanted to speak to me. He wanted me to become the new Police Commissioner and leave the Malta Security Services. To be honest, he took me by surprise. In the 22 months I have been working at the MSS, I, together with the rest of the team, worked well and gave a good service.

Did you make any conditions?

I do not think I should impose any conditions on the Prime Minister but the Prime Minister and everyone else knows my character. Michael Cassar of yesterday and today is the same and I think I am saying a lot by saying this.

What concrete action are you going to take to bring about change in the police force?

I can’t give you a definite answer after just two days. I can just give you my thoughts. My first thought is discipline. Discipline has gone down the drain and respect towards the hierarchy in the Corps is lacking. They are important because if you do not have harmony inside the force you can’t give results outside. Over the years, as a result of better working conditions in the police force, discipline and respect for the hierarchy fizzled out. It’s good that conditions improve but this should not be at the expense of respect towards one’s superiors.

Another aspect that needs to be changed is the mentality towards work. For instance if you have an investigation going on and it’s 5pm you can’t say I will leave and give it to another officer who will be on duty. In an investigation you only know the time when you start it. The public needs to know that it is being served well. Police officers need to know that they are there to help the citizens. 

After all that happened in the past days Joe Public has lost trust in the Police Force. People out there are saying that the police are not protecting their rights but only themselves. What are you going to do to ensure that the Police will regain people’s trust?

We need to raise the morale of the Corps and this can increase on different levels. We can’t have a situation where some police officers want to work hard but are being hindered by other officers who do not want to work. One way or another, this state of affairs has to end. Another point is that although the specialized squads are important in our community, the first contact with the public is through the officers at the police station. Unfortunately for a lot of them, and I say this with responsibility, their approach with the public is stupid. Let me give you an example, if a person wants to report that he lost something in Mellieha, he doesn’t need to go to the Mellieha Police Station to do so, but he should be able to report the theft in any station. Yet, even though this policy was ordered by my predecessors you still find officers who tell the public the opposite.  This has to stop. Another aspect that we need to work on is the communication between the public and the police corps. My wish is to have officers more present in the streets among the public but I know there is a number of constraints such as human resources.

Will you tolerate political interference?

Everyone knows Michael Cassar and his mentality. I owe it to the public because the biggest support came from there.

Are you going to issue any transfers?

God forbid that no transfers are given. In the past the word transfer was seen as a form of punishment, nowadays it is also a favour. Even though transfers are still going to happen I am going to change certain methods with which they are handled. For instance, if I need people in a certain specialized squad I issue an internal call for application, a wide-ranging vetting of the applicants will take place followed by interviews, and then the necessary transfers will take place. Another type of transfer that I am considering is one that regards police officers working in the locality where they reside. I do not agree with this and I will make the necessary changes.

Will you press charges against  John Dalli?

I spoke in the Public Accounts Committee and expressed my views. What I can tell you is that even if a case has been put away for 15 years the file is never closed and will remain open. If new evidence is produced the investigation continues.

Do you think the Police Force should have a CEO?

From what I saw in the past few days I tend to agree that the corps should have a CEO. It is a very positive move because there is a lot of administration work to do.

Are you going to be the Prison Director as well?

So far it is Assistant Commissioner Ray Zammit who occupies that role.

What is going to be your working relationship with AC Ray Zammit?

My working relationship with Ray Zammit goes back a number of years. When I was a constable he was my sergeant. We always had an excellent relationship and respect towards each other. I told him that I am ready to work with him and he told me the same. I do not see that there are going to be any problems. 

In the past months we saw a number of ex police officers in their 60s and 70s or with a shady past being reinstated again? Are you going to do the same?

Absolutely and categorically not. I would like to find a way in which the good people in the police corps will not be lost but at the same time find new and young officers to be trained. A way has to be found for good officers to be retained in the force beyond their 25 years of service so as not to lose their competence and experience. On the other hand officers who do not perform should not remain a burden on the police force after 25 years. 

Are there going to be more mobile police stations? 

I see them as an eyesore but having said that, they are important to have and we need them. So yes, I will continue to invest in them.

Are you going to make sure that the police have monthly training sessions?

Absolutely. Yesterday I had talks with the commander of the police academy and we are going to revise the curriculum and intensify training.

What is your motto as a Commissioner?

Honesty.