Prime Minister Robert Abela has said that during this legislature, as part of the implementation of his government’s electoral manifesto, the government intends to provide all officers within Malta’s disciplined forces with health insurance.
The Prime Minister visited the police’s Rapid Intervention Unit (RIU) and its Special Intervention Unit (SIU) in Ta’ Kandja, on Sunday. During this visit, he was able to observe, up close, the specialised work that is carried out by these two sections of the Malta Police Force.
Accompanied by Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bedingfield and Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà, Prime Minister Abela stated that the government recognises the disciplinary corps’ particular needs and challenges within their duties.
Resultantly, he shared that the government, over the next five years of its legislature, plans on providing health insurance to all officers within the disciplined bodies to grant them wider access to the health service they may require.
During this visit, Abela visited the two units’ training area and saw their fleet of operational vehicles. He was also given insights on the practical training undergone at their dedicated facilities, which include exercises related to accessing buildings in high-risk situations.
The Prime Minister thanked the RIU and SIU officers for their dedication, professionalism, and courage, which he said they observe on a daily basis while fulfilling their duties in keeping the Maltese and Gozitan people safe.
He stated that his government is committed to continue investing in the necessary personnel and resources, including adequate training and technological equipment, so that members of the Police Force can continue fulfilling their duties to the best of their ability.
PM Abela stressed that investing in the police serves as a direct investment towards providing security for families, communities, and the country in general.
The RIU works around the clock, 24 hours a day, every day, and is the unit ready to respond to emergencies. Its officers respond to a wide range of emergencies, including cases of domestic violence, traffic accidents, robberies, fires, and situations involving arms. The RIU also has a regular and visible presence in numerous areas around the country, and offers operational assistance to various other units within the Malta Police Force.
In a statement, the Office of the Prime Minister said that, in recent months, the RIU has continued to be bolstered through a new fleet of specialised vehicles and new uniforms that have been specially designed to give RIU officers better mobility, comfort, and efficiency while performing their duties.
The SIU is responsible for tactical response in high-risk situations, including hostage situations, armed persons, terrorism threats, and operations against drug trafficking. This section also provides specialised training with weapons, in first aid, crowd control, among others.
The Prime Minister concluded that his government shall continue supporting the Malta Police Force so that officers may continue having the necessary conditions and resources to continue carrying out their duties with the highest level of professionalism, while further strengthening the public’s trust in them and keeping local communities safe.