Authorities ‘identify various hot-spots’ for organised crime, action to be taken shortly

Home Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia yesterday revealed that authorities have identified various “hot-spots” for organised crime across Malta and Gozo, and will be taking action shortly.

He stressed that recent police raids in Marsa have led to the arrest of both Maltese and foreign nationals carrying out illegal activities.

Farrugia was addressing members of the press to outline a large number of activities carried out by the Home Affairs Ministry as part of its pre-electoral pledge.

Among the measures mentioned, of most interest were proposed changes within Corradino Correctional Facility.

“An evaluation is being carried out of the situation within the prison, from the perspective of both prisoners and staff.”

Farrugia stressed that he would like more prisoners to leave Corradino Correctional Facility with qualifications in hand so that they may re-enter society with less obstacles in place.

He said that the pittance paid to prisoners who carry out work while serving their sentence is unacceptable, and that he would like to see a more humane wage paid to prisoners through a bank account made accessible to them on their release.

On the issue of drugs prevalent inside the prison, Farrugia spoke of ongoing training for prison warders in order for them not to simply enforce laws, but to also help in the rehabilitation process.

“We want prison staff to be part of the rehabilitation process and not part of the problem through certain relationships between staff and inmates. The most important thing is the training of prison staff before they begin their duties. At the academy, training commenced 18 months ago for this purpose.”

On the role of the director of the correctional facility, tasked with handling a wide range of individual issues, Farrugia spoke of setting up a board of governors which would tackle such issues while the director’s role would be more akin to that of a CEO, overseeing policy implementation.

The minister said he was against strip searches carried out on those entering prisons, and said that the ministry was seeking to introduce body scanners to replace this undignified practice.

Police

An effort is being made to reverse the trend which has seen more police officers leaving the force than entering.

Farrugia spoke of positive results from the increased police presence in Paceville, and said other “hot-spots” would soon be getting the same treatment.

AFM

A tender is to be issued for a new vessel intended to assist EU border agency Frontex.

On the detention of those entering or staying in Malta illegally, measures are being taken to improve the quality of facilities such as centres, the minister said.

Discussions are also taking place with NGOs and staff from open centres so as to avoid the concentration of migrants in a single place, which may inadvertently lead to the development of ghettos.

Farrugia said that most irregular migrants in Malta right now are economic migrants, adding that they will only be accepted provided they have arrived through legal channels.

He also spoke of the assistance provided to open centres in North Africa, through the help of the UN refugee wing and the International Maritime Organisation, to “ensure that those wanting to migrate to Europe are doing so for genuine reasons.”

Safety and Security

Farrugia made reference to the Grenfell Tower fire in the UK last June, in which 80 people lost their lives and scores more were injured. The fire’s rapid spread throughout the apartment block is thought to have been the result of the building’s substandard cladding.

Farrugia said that the Civil Protection Department has embarked on an assessment programme to ensure that no tall buildings in Malta face similar issues. The minister is informed that the assessment has found no shortcomings. Power levers are also to be purchased so that authorities will have the tools to reach people in high areas as quickly as possible in the event of an emergency