PL Hits Back At Italy-Malta Police Initiative Criticism

The Labour Party has responded to criticism from the Nationalist Party over a police exchange initiative that sees Italian officers joining the Maltese force during the summer period.

The initiative, which forms part of a wider cooperation strategy with international partners, is aimed at offering Maltese police officers new learning opportunities and exposure to different policing methods, the PL emphasised.

The PL described the Opposition’s reaction as partisan and sensationalist, accusing it of undermining valuable agreements that contribute to the professional development of the Police Force.

They pointed out that similar exchanges have taken place in recent years, including with France and the United Kingdom, where Maltese officers gained first-hand experience in community policing and international law enforcement practices.

The PL said that Italian officers in Malta hold no executive powers and are present for a limited time only.

Their presence is reciprocal, allowing Maltese officers to benefit from similar experiences abroad.

The PL statement said that Malta continues to rank among the ten safest countries in the world, with crime rates having declined once again last year.

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