The Malta Police Association has expressed concern at the rate at which the police ‘extra duty’ was being reduced.

It said yesterday marked the last day in which police officers could carry out extra duties at the Naxxar counting hall. This will mean that the members of the force would lose out on some €100,000 in extra duties.

Last year they were also stopped from serving at social security district offices after the service was transferred to a private company, the MPA said.

Last year another €50,000 in revenue were lost when police were told they would no longer perform extra duties at the Electoral Commission offices. From next week, the extra duty at the fisheries section will also be drastically cut leading to a reduction of €200 a week.

The MPA said these developments are worrying for the police corps, especially since the limitations imposed on police recruitment were growing.

Police are not permitted to do part-time work and their only means to make more money is through extra duties. The police are working 46 hours a week but are being paid for 40 hours, it said.

“This injustice needs to be remedied. The working hours either need to be reduced or else the pay scales need to be revised. We would also like to see sections where part-time work would be permitted,” the association said.

The association called for an ad hoc provision in the upcoming collective agreement when dealing with the police which caters for their particular cases.