The Malta Police Union has issued industrial directives instructing officers to cease from helping Transport Malta and LESA to move cars which are obstructing certain areas.

The union said that since Transport Malta officials have as much powers as the police do on this matter, then they should not be involving the police in such a duty.

From Monday therefore, the union has instructed its members to refrain from offering such assistance unless it is in the case of an emergency where harm or damage could be caused.

Officers have also been told not to hand their mobile phones to LESA or Transport Malta officials as a matter of protecting their personal safety.

The directives will not apply to cases of an individual citizen who is seeking the assistance of the police to remove a vehicle from, for instance, in front of a garage.

The union said that the level of assistance that was being asked of them by LESA and Transport Malta was unreasonable, citing an example wherein on 6 September a Transport Malta official expected police officers to call the owners of 53 cars so that the vehicles are removed so that road works are carried out.

“This is a daily occurrence and is having a very negative effect on already stretched to the limit officers,” the union said.

They said that the TM and LESA officials have the power under law to order the removal of such vehicles themselves without having to resort to the police.