Community policing will be introduced in 11 new localities for residents to have a more direct connection to their police officers.
Furthermore, the Individual Investor Programme (IIP), is investing €60,000 towards centralised premises and electric bicycles for police officers.
The extension of this community policing scheme was announced on Thursday morning, when Home Affairs, National Security and Law Enforcement Minister Byron Camilleri announced that community policing has been successful in a number of areas, noting the success of the pilot project in Mellieha last year.
“Community policing gives residents, individuals who work in an area and others a direct link to their police officers, who serve to prevent crimes from happening rather than only reacting once a crime has taken place.”
He highlighted that for many having police present in the community is extremely important. “It is important as police are the first reference for people who need a service and residents know who to look for when they are in need.”
The project is being extended to communities such as Mdina, Had Dingli, Floriana, Valletta, Marsaxlokk, Birzebbuga, Pembroke, Swieqi, Fgura, Rabat, and Mtarfa.
Camilleri highlighted that the biggest difference between traditional policing and community policing is the collaboration between the authorities and people living and working in the community. “All entities collaborate together to make our communities safer.”
Camilleri said that in the near future the community policing scheme will be introduced in other localities to ensure that more communities in Malta and Gozo have a safer community. “We will extend this scheme to other communities, some which might be more difficult and we will see how the police can help more in these places.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship and Communities Alex Muscat explained how the €60,000 funds will be distributed in this project.
He explained that the funds will go towards the rehabilitation of two properties in Fgura and Floriana to be used for community policing, and to purchase another 10 electric bicycles the police use for community policing.
“This is scheme is special as it brings police and citizens together; and we now see that those individuals who invest in our country through citizenship is being directly invested to guarantee a better quality of life through more secure communities,” said Muscat.
Photos: Giuseppe Attard