MP Rosianne Cutajar proposes a domestic violence registry

May 19 2022

Labour Party MP Rosianne Cutajar has called for the setting up of a registry listing people with a history of domestic violence, citing a UK scheme called ‘Clare’s Law’.

Through this registry, police would be able to disclose information to people about their partner’s domestic abuse history.

Cutajar said that people have a right to know if their new partner is affiliated with this sort of abuse. The UK domestic violence disclosure scheme cited by Cutajar, called ‘Clare’s Law’ was launched in 2014.

It allows people to ask police for information on their partner’s criminal history. Police are also allowed to inform people of their current or past partner’s history of their own will should they be in danger.

The MP also pointed to statistics showing that over 500 domestic violence reports were filed in the first four months of 2022. Saying that more needs to be done to address the issue, Cutajar called for action on what can be done for people to come forward to report abuse.

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Over 9,000 inspections carried out in two years by OHSA

May 19 2022

9,106 workplaces were inspected by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) during the last 2 years. These varied from micro to large enterprises in the manufacturing, construction, and services sectors amongst others.

OHS officers who carry out these inspections look at the various aspects of work activity being carried out and take action according to the levels of risk present.

In situations where the danger is significant but not high, improvement notices are issued, instructing employers to remedy the situation within a reasonable period of time. Improvement notices were issued between January 2020 and December 2021 to nearly a third of the workplaces visited (3,045).

In 1,025 workplaces visited, the hazards present were deemed serious enough to potentially cause death or serious physical harm.

In these instances, OHS Officers issued orders for work activities to stop immediately until the situation was remedied. These cases will continue to be followed up to ensure that the workplaces become compliant. In all these instances, administrative fines are issued or judicial proceedings commenced once OHSA’s investigations are finalised.

During the same period, 1,152 entities and individuals were issued administrative fines for breaches of occupational health and safety legislation committed during the preceding months.

The most common infringements were the lack of provisions to prevent falls from heights, construction site project supervisors not adhering to OHS general principles of prevention and construction site clients not following the recommendations of the project supervisor.

During the same period of time, OHSA also vetted 8,906 equipment examination reports and 3,873 construction notification forms, amongst others.

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Man allegedly injured with rock in argument in Mellieha

May 19 2022

Police have reported that they were informed yesterday at around 2030hrs that assistance was needed at Ghadira Bay, Mellieha.

Police convened immediately on site and, from preliminary investigations, it was shown that an argument broke out between two men. One of the men was a 28-year-old Nepalese man resident of Mellieha. The other man had fled the scene.

During the argument, a rock was reportedly used, injuring the man grievously. A medical team was called on site to give immediate assistance. The man was taken to Mater Dei Hospital where he was certified as having suffered grievous injures.

Investigations are ongoing.

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83 officers were tested for drugs reveal Malta Police Force

May 19 2022

According to a statement by the Malta Police Force, an internal document which sets out the policy and procedure in respect of testing for abuse of drugs and alcohol misuse was issued in November 2021.

The policy applies to all police officers irrespective of rank, who were, and are, subject to random routine drug testing. Since the policy was issued, 83 tests were conducted.

It was reported earlier in May of this year that three police officers resigned after testing positive for cocaine. A fourth officer was found to be under the influence of alcohol during work hours.

The law empowers the prime minister to dismiss any officers found under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri had stated that the law demonstrates a zero-tolerance approach to use among members of the forces.

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