The Prime Minister should not blame the judiciary or attack their sentencing policy, let alone out undue pressure on them in particularly testing times, Nationalist MP Adrian Delia said Tuesday.

Delia was referring to comments made by Abela on Monday. The PM praised the police for their actions, but urged the courts to reintroduce the sense of security in the country.

Abela said that certain judgments that are too light for the offence. "I believe the courts need to carry out a revision of their sentencing policies, review previous sentences and balance out certain penalties."

In a comment on Facebook, the former Opposition Leader said the PM should not blame the judiciary. This is both because they are prohibited from replying or commenting in public and because it amounts to judicial interference constituting an assault on their autonomy and independence.

If the Prime Minister truly wishes to see harsher repercussions to crime being administered by our courts what he should do is set up a law reform committee to revise and amend the criminal code and legislate harsher penalties, Delia said.

When a Prime Minister pronounces the failure of security and safety in one’s own country under his own watch the first thing one would expect is the handing in of the resignation of the Minister of Interior. Of course in Malta this shall not happen. Therefore it is only political gesturing and responsibility shirking. Sad but worse still dangerous, Delia said.

The particular reference here was to what Abela said regarding his fear to allow his daughter to be on her own in Valletta.

This leaves the citizens in disarray, Delia said. It spreads fear and anxiety when he does not only highlight a massive breakdown of societal discipline but offers no solution at all. Where do the people look for protection then? How will they seek to leave in peace and quiet? Who will guarantee their wellbeing ?

This does not augur well for our country. We have embarked on a slippery slope and it is safe to conclude that those who created this chaos can certainly not be the ones to solve it, Delia said.