The Malta Police Force has admitted that certain police stations at a divisional level have to close down occasionally because of “heavy commitments,” such as football matches, and court duties.

The force was replying to questions sent over a week ago by this paper after Swieqi residents complained that the recently opened police station was found closed on a number of occasions.

Pictures sent to this paper by residents of the locality show the station closed at night. On some occasions the internal lights and the blue lamp were left on while on others all lights were switched off. Residents said that, whenever the station was closed a sign reading ‘Officers on patrol’ was hung on the front door. However, there were occasions were the station seemed completely unmanned despite the door sign being put up.

It is understood that the station was also closed on some mornings, including on 5 September, when a foreign burglar was caught red handed breaking into a house. Residents spoke about how they went to get help from the station at around 8am and found it closed.

They also said that since the officer was only being manned by two officers and the police patrol in pairs, the station had to be left unmanned during foot patrols.

Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela has insisted that, from the information he was given by the police, the Swieqi station is open and manned 24 hours a day.

But in comments to this paper, a police spokesperson said there were some occasions when the station had to close down.

“There are some occasions when some Police Stations, at a divisional level have to close down (Police Stations at district level are not allowed to close down), according to exigencies of the Force.  An example would be Tuesday 13th October when there was a large scale commitment, which was the football match between Malta and Croatia.”

The spokesperson said personnel at the Swieqi station has been increased and the station is hardly ever closed, “except when the officer is on patrol or Court duties or when there are heavy commitments.”

Meanwhile, the police failed to say whether it was true, as residents claim, that the only squad car used by the Swieqi police had been reassigned elsewhere. The Malta Independent had been informed that officers had to walk to trouble spots for lack of an official vehicle and this was problematic seeing that the station was responsible for a wide area that also includes Madliena and Ibrag. Speaking to this paper last week, Mr Abela was also unable to confirm this.