A new Roads Policing Unit has been set up within the Malta Police Force in order to enforce traffic rules and investigate major road accidents, the Home Affairs Ministry announced on Monday.

The Roads Policing Unit will be a specialised section that, in addition to enforcing traffic regulations, will now also begin investigating major traffic accidents more efficiently, particularly those involving fatalities or serious injuries, the ministry said.

The ministry said that this new investigative unit has been equipped with new tools and accredited training so that police officers can collect crash-site evidence and analyse it to determine the causes of the accident. The findings can then be presented as evidence in court. This process is also expected to help reopen main roads more quickly after serious traffic incidents.

Details about the new unit and its operations were shared during a visit by Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri, and Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà.

In his remarks, Minister Camilleri stated that thanks to this significant investment, “the Police Force will not only continue offering a professional service but also an improved service to the community.” He added that the investment in people and tools will substantially improve traffic accident investigations.

Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà said this is another centralised service that will investigate road traffic incidents using modern tools and technology. The police will now digitally recreate accident scenes, allowing for careful analysis back at the office.

The officers forming part of this new section have received accredited training, enabling them to perform this work in a specialized and professional manner. The unit is set to begin operations from Tuesday at 6am.

Over the past weeks, these officers underwent intensive training in various areas, particularly in the use of the equipment that will be deployed to collect evidence on-site. They also received training in photography, drone operation, 3D scanning, and even first aid. Additional instruction was provided on how to analyse the collected evidence and determine the dynamics of the collision.

Further accredited training from a British company was given on computer software used to analyse collisions, road surface quality, and even how road layouts affect accidents.

In recent months, the traffic enforcement division has also been equipped with modern motorcycles and vehicles.