Photos that were sent to the media by the Malta Police Union last week show the St Julian’s station in a state of utmost disrepair.

The police station in that locality – one of the busiest, since it has to deal with a sizeable percentage of the crime that takes place in Malta – is in a desperate need of an overhaul, and a major one at that.

It is not the only station that needs to be seen to. There are certainly others that should undergo a facelift. But the St Julian’s one is probably one of the worst hit, and one that needs to be upgraded in the immediate term.

The thing is, the situation has been deteriorating for quite a while. For one thing, it is not easily accessible to persons with mobility problems. One has to climb a flight of steps just to be able to enter the reception area (It’s the same thing at the Sliema police station too). The government speaks of a more inclusive society and one that gives equal opportunities to all; it says that disabled people should not be encumbered and find it harder than others. But apparently the St Julian’s police station has been forgotten, in this respect.

Secondly, the pictures show hanging wires, damaged soffits, crumbling walls, broken doors and mould covering large areas – it is not a healthy place to be. The Malta Police Union aptly called it a “horror house”.

“As the Police Week comes to an end, and life will return to normality, away from nice promotional items and invitations for the general public to 'open days', our officers have to continue working in sub-standard environment,” the union said, not without sarcasm. 

Thirdly, given that St Julian’s is a hotspot for crime, officers often have to deal with multiple issues simultaneously, particularly during the weekends, and as things stand now the way the station is divided is not ideal, to put it mildly. This certainly adds to the pressures the officers face when tackling situations which could be problematic.

The union, yesterday, then sent photos of the Valletta police station, which has been in use for fewer years than the one in St Julian’s. Again, they’re photos that show that officers are working in a building that is not “adequate”, with the last maintenance work having been carried out in 2018, according to the union.

The government boasts of giving police officers the best conditions in which to carry out their duties. But these decrepit, dirty and battered buildings that house some of the stations in Malta are certainly not the way to do it. Improved conditions do not only mean a better salary or more comfortable hours; it also means providing them with the best possible environment at their workplace.

Just as much as officers need good, modern cars with which to patrol our streets, so they need clean offices to work in, with all the equipment that they require. It’s a pity that something as basic as this is being ignored by the government.

Working long hours, including nights, in police stations which are far from offering the best possible environment is not something that will motivate the officers.

If anything, it does the opposite.