LESA officers will be equipped with a system of body-worn cameras to provide a better service to citizens and improve conditions for the officers — meaning greater protection for both workers and society.

This was announced by the Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Employment, Byron Camilleri, who said that public order is not a luxury but a necessity. Safety and justice are basic rights in a modern society, and that is why the decision was taken to introduce body-worn cameras for LESA officers, he said.

This decision was also made based on previous results, since when the Police Corps introduced body-worn cameras a few years ago, these resulted in greater protection for both citizens and officers, the minister said.

“The body-worn cameras have led to less violence against police officers and fewer allegations that later prove to be unfounded — in fact, violence against officers has decreased by almost half. This is not just about numbers; it represents a change in mentality. Citizens are less aggressive when they know they are being recorded, and officers act with greater professionalism when they know their actions are also documented. Therefore, this reform is being extended to LESA officers — the people we encounter every day on our streets and in our communities,” he said.

The cameras record two minutes of footage before activation, ensuring full context and transparency, and they will begin being used from Tuesday, 21 October.

The body-worn cameras will also be complemented by further investment in LESA officers, who will benefit from: New uniforms with improved safety and comfort; Investment in new motorcycles to improve traffic response; More training and professional development; Better working conditions, the government said.

The Chief Executive of LESA, Svetlick Flores, said: “All this is part of a broader strategy to provide our officers with the right tools for their work — modern tools that improve response time and presence on the streets.”