The installation of CCTV cameras to act as a deterrent against crime is too expensive to run, mayors said, pushing local councils to seek other ways how to try to tackle the rise in criminal activity in Sliema, St Julian’s and Swieqi.

The St Julian’s local council is requesting a meeting with police commissioner Michael Cassar to discuss in crime in the locality which, together with Sliema and Swieqi, has seen a sharp rise in the number of robberies committed.

Speaking to The Malta Independent, St Julian’s mayor Karl Gouder said that apart from criminal activity, the council would also like to discuss measures on how vandal acts on homes and cars belonging to St Julian’s residents could also be curtailed. The meeting will also discuss the possibility of setting up a neighbourhood watch scheme.

Meetings are scheduled to take place with St Julian’s residents in October and November to discuss the outcome of the meeting with the police chief.

According to Swieqi mayor Noel Muscat, security for residents in the area is not a new one, and many different local councils have been dealing with it for a number of years. Security is a “top priority”, judging from reports made by residents, including on the social media.  

Mr Muscat said that due to pressure by the local council as well as vandal acts that has occurred for quite some time now, the Swieqi police station was opened. This has improved the situation however he stated that whenever there is a need for increased police presence on other parts of the island, the police station is left unmanned. The incident that took place in Swieqi last Saturday, where a would-be burglar attempted to rob a residence, happened just a stone’s throw away from the Swieqi police station, which was closed at the time, he said.

Mr Muscat stated that the council meets with the police on a regular basis to discuss security matters. He said that about a month ago he had a meeting with the newly appointed assistant police commissioner, Martin Sammut. In this meeting the need for the police station to be open 24 hours a day was discussed, as well as an increase in patrols.

In response to questions about any developments regarding a neighbourhood watch, Mr Muscat stated that some residents mention the idea, however due to a lack of sense of community, their numbers are always too few to set up an effective scheme. People need to be prepared to commit time and report to the police for the initiative to work.

Mr Muscat stated that for Swieqi residents the situation has been bad for some time now, giving examples of being woken up at all hours of the night by revellers returning home or cars revving their engines in residential areas. He said that the residents of Swieqi always keep an eye on what takes place during the night, even when they are supposed to be asleep.

He said that the prospect of setting up CCTV cameras has been discussed however the cost of monitoring them in real time, so that they can be effective, would be too high. The rates that wardens were charging was exorbitant, therefore funding such an expense would come at a great cost. The council is now looking into the possibility of hooking up CCTVs and having the police monitor them.

Sliema mayor Anthony Chircop said that the suggestion to have CCTV cameras was made at one time in the past, however the same problem was highlighted: that monitoring the cameras would come at a large cost. He also stated that the council would bear the cost of the actual cameras, and that a meeting with the police had at one point taken place about the possibility of monitoring them, however as like many issues in Malta, the enthusiasm dissipated due to one issue or another taking precedence.

In the meantime the police have called a crime conference for 1030am. This portal will keep you updated with the latest developments.