The Police Force recently launched a Remote Reporting Unit (RRU).

The idea behind it is that one can communicate directly from the comfort of their own home with a police officer by filling out a simple form on the Police Force's website. Those making the report virtually must provide details about what they are reporting and can choose a convenient date and time for a police officer to get back in touch, using the preferred contact method.

Following this the officer who takes the report will register it in the police system, and a copy of the report will be sent by email.

Of course in emergency cases people should call 112 and not use the aforementioned method.

However, this new initiative by the police force does make it easier for non-emergency cases. While it is a good initiative, it should not be seen as a replacement for having more police stations open around the islands.

Yes, the Police have been pushing community policing over officers in stations. Having more officers out on patrol means a higher police presence in an area. In turn, that hopefully translates into less crime. It also means that officers are closer to the community, and that a bond is built between locals and the officers they see patrolling their city, town or village. But having an active police station in an area itself acts as a deterrent to crime. We really and truly should have community policing officers and while also having more fully operational police stations around the country.

Considering that a number of major localities do not have a fully operating police station - in the sense that one does find them closed - it sends the clear message that there aren't enough police officers.

This newsroom has already written an editorial about the Mellieha police station issues. Nationalist MP Ivan Castillo had uploaded a video on Facebook, showing a closed police station in Mellieha, and lamenting the fact that the locality - which covers a large area of land in the north of Malta - is only manned by three community police officers. How the authorities think that three is enough for such an area is ridiculous.

Recently concerns also arose in another locality. The Msida Local Council put forward four proposals to Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri to resolve the issue surrounding the town's currently unavailable police station. Amongst these suggestions, the local council has offered the police the use of its own boardroom until the locality's police station is operable again. The local council had published a letter, stating on social media that the police station "has already been closed for several months, and we are informed that it is not expected to be re-opened soon due to complications that arose during the renovation process." The Malta Independent understands that the police station has now been closed for renovations for 10 months, with Msida residents being constrained to travelling to the Sliema police station should any services be required.

One understands that works would be required on stations from time to time, but that does not excuse having no temporary alternative site until works conclude. The Home Affairs Minister should consider the council's offer or at least look at setting up a temporary station elsewhere in the locality. This is not to mention other closed police stations, such as in Attard.

While the Remote Reporting Unit has its uses, very few people know about this initiative, and regardless people's first instinct will still be to go to the local police station. Let's not forget the huge turnover of foreign workers and tourists in the country who will likely never know about this unit to begin with, thus meaning that if they go to a station only to find it closed, they might give up on reporting a crime because of it, or would need to travel far. While it is a good unit to have, it must work in addition to police stations, and not become a replacement for them.

If more police officers are needed, then the authorities need to work harder at attracting more recruits.