We all remember that unprovoked assault on teenagers by a group of adolescents on a Sunday evening last January. We also remember how, that same month, an engineer by the name of Akhil George was attacked with a hammer in a violent mugging as he waited at a bus stop in the early hours of a Tuesday morning. We all remember the rape and murder of Paulina Dembska, a 29-year-old Polish woman, in Sliema, or the brutal killing of Pelin Kaya, the young Turkish woman killed when a car rammed into her just after she had told her family that she felt safe in Malta, which was why she intended to stay in the country.

And how can we forget those three Maltese police officers accused of abduction and violence against migrants during operations to fight irregular immigration at the beginning of September last year? Or several other violent incidents occurring outside, in the streets, on the roads, in areas intended for relaxation, or wherever it may be out there? These last years, we have been inundated with frequent news and reports of acts of violence, traffic accidents, horrific acts of sexual abuse and rape, people dying at construction sites, dementia patients wandering out of the hospital and never being found, not to mention a dose of vandalism and animal cruelty. Perhaps a climax was reached when Prime Minister Robert Abela admitted that, for the first time, he did not feel it safe to allow his daughter to walk alone in Valletta.

We all know how many rough areas have lately sprouted across our islands. Whereas, up until some time ago, the only real areas of concern were Paceville (the centre of nightlife in Malta, which is part of St Julian's), the localities of Gzira and Sliema (in the same area) and the outskirts of the harbour-side village of Marsa. Today, such concern has been growing and extending to other zones that once were considered to be absolutely safe. The irony of it all is that, statistically, Malta, compared to other countries in Europe, has a very low crime rate. Yet a low crime rate does not translate into an assurance of public safety. The fear of venturing outside is growing stronger and stronger in us.

Public transportation hubs and facilities, particularly the main bus routes between Valletta, Paceville, San Ġiljan and Sliema (lines 13, 14, 15, 16), hotel lobbies, beaches, bars and nightclub areas of Paceville, San Ġiljan and Sliema, are all danger areas, as are street markets. Although police presence and patrols might have increased and become more conspicuous, they are not proving to be very effective in preventing and remediating public safety threats in most areas on weekend nights. Bouncers provide private security for nightclubs but do not have the best reputation for being correct in their dealings, unfortunately. There are plenty of targets for muggers looking for a quick score. Unfortunately, incidents, even in broad daylight, have increased throughout the country recently.

We have had many tragedies that were preventable. Humans make mistakes, but it is the design of our streets that makes those mistakes deadly. We know what it takes to make our streets safe for everyone, including kids. It takes slower speeds, less driving, more space for people outside of cars, more police surveillance and enforcement, as well as better and more effective deterrents. The solutions are not complicated. What is missing is the political will to implement them. We are all living near and travelling through dangerous intersections and hostile streets. Any potential accident with dire consequences – mugging, assault, physical abuse or youth vandals on the rampage – can happen blocks away from your home, work, a place of worship or a school. These unjust outcomes are the result of decades of disinvestment and broken priorities.

Have we not grown tired of having to comprehend the pain of a family losing a child, a parent or a beloved because of a lack of public safety and of advocates, residents and civic leaders pleading with the authorities to restore public safety? We should not have to plead anymore, block by block, project by project, for streets that do not kill people. The system is broken. It is deadly, and it is unjust. Our elected politicians bicker, and our leading authorities keep their heads down and hide behind bureaucracy while our small nation fails to make sufficient progress.

While walking or wheeling is for everyone, not everyone feels safe navigating our streets. Feeling unsafe is becoming a bigger problem in certain locations and is more likely to affect some groups of people. Women and men are starting to feel unsafe walking alone after dark on a quiet street near their homes. Disabled people feel less safe walking or wheeling alone in all settings than non-disabled people. Street harassment makes this situation worse, something women are much more likely to suffer than men.

Fear of crime and anti-social behaviour is on the rise. There are a number of things that can make our streets feel less safe. Fast or heavy traffic, litter, broken pavements or poor lighting are just some examples. People often worry about walking through underpasses, too. While evidence suggests that most of us will choose the quickest or easiest walking route, many people will go out of their way to avoid areas they feel are unpleasant or dangerous.

Lack of public safety is a huge issue that needs a wide range of solutions. For example, we need more “passive surveillance”. Having “more eyes on the street” reduces crime and makes an area feel more welcoming. Good street and urban design can play their part, too. As well as street features, the way buildings are designed and used, influenced by national and local planning policies, can have a direct impact on how safe places feel.

Things will change, we were promised. But several months on, what, if anything, has actually changed? Whatever resources the government chooses to put into action for public safety need to be done fast. Let us talk about policing and public safety. Let us debate what works and what does not. We must abandon practices that do not work and do more of the things that actually do work to save lives. The government's first duty and highest obligation is public safety.

Dr Mark Said is a lawyer