The Executive Committee of the Malta Police Union has issued directives to all members of the Force in Gozo and Malta “as the issue of assistance [unreasonable] given to other entities such as TM officers and LESA has not been resolved.”
The union said in a statement that, “Members of the Force whilst on duty at the Police Station, are receiving requests for assistance by Transport Malta and LESA officers to contact owners of cars that must be moved.
This, the union said, is “a daily occurrence and is having a very negative effect on already stretched to the limit officers.”
The Union said that it is “not against assisting Transport Malta, LESA, Local Councils or any other entity but within reason and proportionality, and when their or another persons’ safety is at risk.”
“We reiterate our position that since TM officials have equivalent powers on this matter, the Police Force should not be involved in their normal duties as long as no concrete assistance to protect same officers is requested.”
Directives that have been issued by the union on Friday, and come into effect from Monday, state that “when there is a request for the Police to call a list of registered owners of vehicles to be removed, by other entities, to;
1) Refrain from assisting other entities unless it is an emergency which may create danger or cause harm to any individual.
2) Police officers are not to hand any telephone set to non-police department staff, as a measure to protect their personal safety. The above does not apply in those cases of an individual person (citizen) seeking the assistance of the Police to remove a vehicle like for example garage.”