The third hub for victims of domestic violence and gender-based violence in the country has opened its doors in Mtarfa, the government said.

"This will complement the work carried out by the hub in Santa Luċija and the hub in Gozo, meaning that this specialised service will now also be provided from the northern part of the country. This follows works that were carried out so that the building can offer an adequate environment to those seeking help, with the service now being provided twenty-four hours a day, all year round, by a multidisciplinary team. The hub offers various support services and professional assistance from officers of the Police Corps and from professionals trained in this field," government said.

Minister Byron Camilleri recalled that it was in 2020 that this Government set up a specialised unit for this purpose, which led to the unit operating from hubs such as these across the country.

"We wanted the service provided to victims to be sensitive and equipped with the necessary expertise for such delicate cases. That is why we chose the path of specialisation. For example, you have a team in a district police station carrying out the general work of the force - handling reports of all kinds, engaging with the community to maintain security and work on prevention, dealing with witnesses and the prosecution of various crimes, festas, and a hundred other things. Within all this, a person who has experienced domestic violence may also come forward. We began to see that it was impossible to provide the level of support we wanted to give. And so we implemented the change."

Minister Camilleri reiterated that "this is why a specialised unit was created, operating through a multi-stakeholder approach, something I strongly believe in. In such hubs, you not only find trained and specialised police officers, but also professionals working hand in hand. That is the service we provide in a hub like this. We started at the depot, then expanded to Santa Luċija, Gozo, and now here in Mtarfa. At the same time, every police officer continues to receive training on the subject both during recruitment and in-service training, but cases are then referred to a hub like this."

Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms, Rebecca Buttigieg, for her part, stressed that, "The reality of domestic violence calls for concrete and continuous action. This hub in Mtarfa is clear evidence of the Government's commitment to bringing services closer to communities, providing safe and dignified spaces for victims, and strengthening a coordinated response between the police, social workers, and all the agencies involved."