The Public Service Commission will soon be given wider powers, included for cases where public sector officials refuse to take a drug test, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said.

Camilleri was replying to a series of Parliamentary Questions by PN MP Beppe Fenech Adami regarding the number of drug tests administered among members of the police force, the armed forces and correctional officers.

When asked regarding the police force, Camilleri answered that there were 2 tests done throughout 2020 and one of these tests resulted in a positive for cocaine. Together with this answer, Camilleri also highlighted the amendments which are going to be made in the coming days in order to improve the drug testing situation.

141 mandatory and random drug tests were performed among members of the Armed Forces of Malta. This number does not include the mandatory tests administered to new recruits, officer cadets and also to the reserve members. From these 141 tests, 3 were found positive for illegal substances. There was also a case of someone who refused to take their test and according to the law of the Armed Forces, he was relinquished from his duties.

With regards to the officers at the prison, Camilleri confirmed that 41 tests were administered on officers and 2 resulted to be positive for cocaine.