Eight people have applied for the post of new Police Commissioner. The call closed on Monday at 8pm.
They are lawyers Mary Muscat, Herman Mula, Frankie Sammut, Assistant Commissioner Alexandra Mamo, legal procurator Sandro Camilleri, Police CEO Angelo Gafa and Inspectors Robert Vella and Jonathan Ransley.
No official list of applicants has as yet been made available. Sources said the government will not be announcing the names since this process is being carried out by the Public Service Commission, which works independently from the government.
Among the first to confirm her intentions was lawyer and former police inspector Mary Muscat, who also lectures at the University of Malta and the Academy for Disciplined Forces.
Mary Muscat
Announcing the move in a Facebook post, Muscat said "It is a hard career decision... but it's either a change for professional policing, or 'more of the same'. I choose the first.
Lawyer and retired police inspector Herman Mula has also applied for the post. He was in the news recently for defending the crew of an AFM patrol boat after they were accused of the involuntary homicide of migrants. Mula, who served on the force for 18 years, is the son of the late retired assistant commissioner Bartholomeo Mula.
Herman Mula
Another applicant is Inspector Frankie Sammut, who is the lead investigator at the Immigration Section and is also part of the Malta Police Association. He is also a lawyer.
Former POU-GWU president and founder Sandro Camilleri has also thrown his name in the hat. Camilleri is also an inspector with over 25 years' experience in the force.
Angelo Gafa
Assistant Police Commissioner Alexandra Mamo confirmed late on Monday evening that she had also applied. With a careed in the police force spanning almost 30 years, she became the first female Assistant Police Commissioner in June 2017.
Malta Police Force CEO Angelo Gafa has also confirmed that he has applied. He was appointed to the post in 2016. Gafa also lectures at the University of Malta. He is considered to be the most likely to be chosen for the police top job. He was an inspector and also worked with the Malta Security Service (MSS). Before joining the police force, Gafa was a Lieutenant in the Armed Forces of Malta.
Frankie Sammut
Inspector Robert Vella serves on the Hamrun distrixt. He was also secretary General of the Malta Police Association.
Jonathan Ransley is the Sliema district inspector. He has served on the force for over 18 years.
The government introduced a new system for the appointment of Police Commissioner after recommendations by the Venice Commission. The new system will see applicants shortlisted by the Public Service Commission, which is made up of two representatives of the government, two of the Opposition, and a chairman agreed upon by both sides.
Robert Vella
The Commission drew up the criteria of eligibility for the candidates, and will later provide the Prime Minister with a shortlist of two candidates. The Prime Minister will then choose the candidate he believes is best suited for the post. The chosen candidate will then face Parliament's Public Appointments Committee for scrutiny by both the government and the Opposition.
Jonathan Ransley
Interviewed on Indepth last February and asked about the new system, Muscat had said that what she does not like is the public grilling which will take place to an audience, saying that she hopes that the process is not turned into a public spectacle, noting that this could turn certain people who are not comfortable on camera away from the job.
Sandro Camilleri
The Malta Police Force is currently led by Acting Police Commissioner Carmelo Magri. He took over after the resignation of Lawrence Cutajar earlier this year. Magri said in an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday that he is not going to apply for the post, and will be retiring in September after serving on the force for over 35 years.
Alexandra Mamo
Below: Dr Mary Muscat's comments on Indepth