Minister for Home Affairs, Security, and Employment, Byron Camilleri, has introduced legal amendments aimed at strengthening the punishment for individuals who attack public officials, which include removal of the possibility of a suspended sentence and conditional liberty, and an increase in prison sentences and higher fines.

It was explained that these amendments ensure that, while the Court will decide the punishment within the parameters of the law, suspended sentences and conditional liberty will no longer be an option. At the same time, prison sentences and fines for those who commit violence against members of the Disciplinary Corps and public officials will be increased.

Minister Camilleri remarked that “over the past seven years, we have seen a 67% reduction in violence against the police, partly due to our investments in their resources. Recently, we could have condemned the incident in ?amrun and left it at that. We could have said our work is bearing fruit, as the numbers show, and that one isolated case doesn’t change anything. But I believe otherwise. Even one case of an officer being assaulted while performing their duty is unacceptable.”

He highlighted these legal amendments as a clear signal of support for law enforcement and discipline, emphasising that they complement the investments the Government has made – and continues to make – in the Disciplinary Corps.

Minister Camilleri explained that the amendments are the result of extensive consultation, including with the police and their representative unions.

The amendments that we will present to Parliament on Monday are as follows:

•? Where the offence is of vilification, threats, or bodily harm against public officers, the fine (multa) of not less than €800 and not more than €5,000 shall increase to a fine of not less than €1,200 and not more than €7,500.

•? Where the assault or resistance is committed by one or two persons, imprisonment for a term from six months to two years and to a fine of not less than €4,000 and not more than €10,000 shall increase to imprisonment for a term from one year to four years and to a fine (multa) of not less than €6,000 and not more than €15,000.

•? Where the assault or resistance is committed by three or more persons, imprisonment for a term from nine months to three years and to a fine of not less than €5,000 and not more than €15,000 shall increase to imprisonment for a term from eighteen months to six years and to a fine of not less than €7,500 and not more than €22,500.

•? Where the assault or resistance is committed with the use of arms proper, imprisonment from one year to four years and to a fine of not less than €8,000 and not more than €20,000, shall increase to imprisonment for a term from eighteen months to six years and to a fine of not less than €12,000 and not more than €30,000.

•? In addition, where any of the above-mentioned crimes are accompanied by public violence, the punishment awarded shall increase from imprisonment for a term from two to five years to imprisonment for a term from three years to seven years and to a newly introduced fine of not less than €10,000 and not more than €25,000.

Photo: DOI

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