After publishing my last blog on the Police Force, I received several messages, from highly respected persons who have chosen to kindly share with me information about the history of our Police Corps, which I believe should not remain under wraps. With their permission, I have decided to share this information with you as I am sure that what has happened in the Corps when Labour was in government between 1971 and 1987 can shed some light on the modus operandi at present. Unfortunately time does not seem to have changed much for Labour, and the indications are that past mistakes are going to be repeated yet again.
The official reason for Michael Cassar's departure is associated with his health. However, Nationalist newspapers have gone a step further and stated that political interference in his work is another reason for this resignation. I am sure that there are other important motives behind Cassar’s resignation besides his health.
This resignation can only fuel speculation about political interference in the affairs of the Corps. While political interference was always present, the tendency with Labour is to take them to unprecedented heights. The only exception was Alfred Sant, who, on taking office in 1996, kept the Commissioner of Police, George Grech in office.
What follows is based on personal experiences sent to me by some of my readers. Their testimony is important, in particular as official documents and correspondence concerning the Police are not normally available for historians to consult before the lapse of a 70-year period.
Perhaps, what is less known, is that after Vivian DeGray resigned in 1971, Alfred Bencini was not Mintoff's first choice. Mintoff wanted Alfred Lanzon, who was DeGray’s deputy, to be the next commissioner of police but Lanzon turned down the offer. Mintoff's second choice was Alfred Bencini who accepted the post. I am informed that after Alfred Bencini had tendered his resignation in 1973, Prime Minister Dom Mintoff wanted to appoint as commissioner somebody exterior to the Corps. But, eventually, Mintoff changed his idea and instead asked Alfred’s brother, Edward Bencini, to head the Police Force.
The choice of Edward Bencini was simply driven by the fact that he was on the verge of retirement and this gave Mintoff time to groom some other officer for the post. Despite the fact that Edward Bencini was nearing retirement age, he too resigned because of political interference a few months before going out on pension. Like his brother, he could not tolerate the interference and preferred to move out rather than become a political puppet. Edward had acumen. He did not want to be in a Corps where the police were unable to protect lawfully demonstrating citizens. Following his resignation, Labour thugs attacked Nationalist supporters during the Independence celebration of 1974. Edward Bencini felt it coming and did not want to be part of that political charade.
Edward Bencini was replaced by Enoch Tonna. Someone who knows the facts told me that pressure was exerted, but the exact words used were “kienet saret ħidma” (there had been manipulation) so that Enoch Tonna would be appointed Police Commissioner, even though, there were other officers, who were senior to him. These officers were staunch Labourites among whom were William Moran, John Cachia and Pawlu Mamo. Yet, Tonna’s career as a Commissioner of Police was short lived.
John Cachia was appointed Commissioner of Police instead. According to Alfred Bencini’s autobiography, Cachia started his career as a police forensic photographer. Bencini did not seem to have a high opinion of Cachia. However, Cachia survived and went out on pension. He was the most loyal commissioner Mintoff ever had. Those who knew him, say that his loyalty to Mintoff verged on servitude. Such was his hold that he was even allowed to continue serving as Commissioner of Police beyond the age of 61. When Government set up what was known then as the Task Force, Cachia was asked to head it and eventually landed the title of colonel.
Next, Mintoff offered the post of Commissioner of Police to Anthony Mifsud Tommasi but he refused. Thus, the post was offered to Lawrence Pullicino. During his tenure, the Police Force went through important reforms. He set up new sections in the police force and police officers started being sponsored to follow the law course at University. However, under his helm, the police force got entangled in one of the worst periods in its history. Pullicino was the sole Commissioner to be indicted and convicted for murder that took place in the depot. In 1987, he was replaced by Alfred Calleja.
This short summary shows that what the Police went through in the last three years is nothing new. History is repeating itself and this does not augur well for Labour, the Prime Minister and the Police Force. It seems that only a servile commissioner can survive under Labour. As someone rightly told me, “sincerament huwa diffiċli biex is-sitwazzjoni tiġi kif suppost tkun f’pajjiż modern Ewropew”. (Sincerely, I think that it is now difficult for the situation to return to what it should be in a modern European country).