Justice Minister Jonathan Attard has announced a new criminal court building to be constructed behind the main law courts in Valletta, which is to include a specialised zone accessible only to victims of crime.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Attard unveiled the plans for the refurbishment of the Criminal Court building known as Il-Ferjol, which has long been planned to be converted into a facility related to the courts.  The total cost of the project will be of around €5 million.

He said that the building will include three court rooms equipped with the latest modern equipment, offices for the judiciary and workers who assist it, a criminal register, and a specialised zone with a separate entrance accessible only to victims of crime, assuring the best protection for these individuals.

Attard said that in the coming days, tenders for the required works in this building will be issued. “The process addresses today’s and tomorrow’s needs, complimenting other government plans for infrastructure related to the justice sector,” he said.

He said that government has allocated the highest Budget for the justice sector the country has seen, amounting to a total of €60 million, a 21% increase from that of last year, and almost four times higher than budgets allocated under a PN administration.

Attard named several projects which were being implemented throughout this year, with most being finished, and others underway to finalisation, naming a new courtroom built this year.

Each of the sectors within the Justice Ministry have also experienced an increase in the allocated Budget for 2024, including the Court Services Agency, with an allocated budget of €33 million to continue to invest and strengthen human resources.

Attard said that currently, Malta has the largest number of people working in the law courts, where 500 workers are currently benefiting from better conditions thanks to the collective agreement, and from 2012 till today, workers in the court have increased by 121 individuals.

He continued that there are also 29 full-time specialised court attorneys, 47 judicial assistants, which have doubled in number.

“When it comes to human resources, we must take everything into context,” Attard said, adding that due to challenges as a result of a growing economy, there is the need for investment towards human resources.

He said that conditions for court workers have improved, and that next year, workers will be provided specialised training in the first few months of their employment.

Attard said that government has invested on modernising and digitalisation of the law courts, which include document cameras, Wi-Fi systems, and ensuring that the building for the law courts continue to be modernised so that they are adequate for members of the judiciary, as well as the public who seeks the court’s services.

He also said that the offices of the Attorney General and the State Advocate has seen a substantial increase in their allocated Budget, as well as in their personnel, adding that there has been an increase in lawyers acting in the role of prosecutor.

On the State Advocate office, Attard said that the office does a very good job, and that a collective agreement which will elevate the office’s standards will be concluded in the coming days.

Attard said that calls for lawyers to be assigned to specialised panels in each sector of justice, including for the criminal panel, civil panel, as well as assistance towards victims of crime, will be issued as well.

He also said that government will be seeking to implement legal amendments to strengthen the laws around criminality, mentioning the compilations of evidence reform, which is to move on to the Parliamentary process, as well as the reform to be further implemented for inquiring magistrates.

Attard said that in time, the public consultation for this reform will be announced, to continue decreasing the number of pending inquiries.

He continued that work is underway on reforms to increase human resources within the law courts in an unprecedented manner in order to maximise the current resources. Attard added that important amendments also need to be made in the criminal sector, including consultation on law amendments on the drug sector, family law, court notifications, as well as the principle of a “second chance” to ensure a just society.

“Change must be done and must be seen to be done, to continue bringing a positive change for those who seek justice,” Attard said.

Permanent Secretary for Justice Johan Galea said that compared to 2023, this Budget marks the largest increase in capital projects for the law courts, with a 600% increase towards capital projects within the Court Services Agency, compared to last year

Attard was asked about a call made by the Maltese Judiciary Association, asking government for more resources to be provided to judges and magistrates, saying that unfortunately, competent people are not being drawn to work in the law courts, mainly due to the “unattractive pay structure.”

He referred to the figures mentioned in the press conference on the increase in human resources.

“If we say that there are no challenges with regards to human resources, we would not be realistic,” Attard admitted, but one must also be conscious of what is being done.

Attard assured that government is working extensively to improve worker conditions, mentioning the training provided to workers in their first months of employment, so that the service given is an optimal one.

“On the comments by the members of the Judiciary, I have always been realistic when it comes to the challenges, there are challenges which are serious which have degenerated for decades, but I do not agree with those who are giving the impression that these challenges have arisen today,” Attard said, adding that government has the plan for solutions to these challenges.

He said that the challenges in this sector must be identified, but the efforts to find a solution for these challenges must also be recognised.

Answering questions by the media on comments made by Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti on the lack of human resources, Attard said that government has taken note of these appeals, and that these appeals are today being transformed into reality, adding that the increase in judges and magistrates is now “unprecedented.”

He said that in the past year, another call was issued, not only to respond to appeals made by the judiciary, but also because government has done its exercises which resulted that it was necessary to increase the members of the judiciary.

Attard reiterated that government has recognised these challenges, but one must also recognize what government has done and is currently doing in this sector, mentioning the substantial increase of workers, training, as well as having attracted legal professionals to offer their services to the judiciary.

“If everyone shoulders responsibility on their work, we will get to a point where we will truly see effective justice,” Attard said.

Responding to a question on a law court building in Gozo, Attard said that government is in the process of identifying the appropriate building for the court in Gozo, with the latest update being that there were a number of submissions made for buildings or sites to serve this purpose, and that analysis is being conducted to identify the best site.