On 1st October, Commissioner Angelo Gafà, on behalf of the Malta Police Force, signed a collaborative exchange agreement with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates and six other police agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department, the United States, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the United States and the Peel Regional Police of Canada. This agreement will offer opportunities for future exchange programmes in the Emirates, as well as sharing of promising information, resources and practices.

Previously, a similar agreement was signed by five other agencies, including Canada’s Toronto Police Service and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

The IACP, the largest and most influential professional association in the world for police leaders, has recognised these six agencies, including the Malta Police Force, for its continued commitment to professionalising and advancing the police globally.

This agreement follows the participation of Maltese police officers in police training programmes held in the United Arab Emirates earlier this year. In February 2024, Police Inspector Raymond Joseph Azzopardi successfully completed a five-month cadet training programme at the Abu Dhabi Police College, Abu Dhabi, Emirates. The training included 35 officials from 14 different countries, with Inspector Azzopardi being recognised as best Overall male International Officer.

Similarly, in May 2024, Sergeant Jan Saliba successfully completed a 16-week programme, leading to a Diploma in Police Innovation and leadership. This course was organised by the Dubai Police General Command, in collaboration with the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Dubai.

“This agreement, which places the Police Force on the world map with giants such as the US Los Angeles Police Department and Canada’s Toronto Police Service, recognises the great advances made by the Police Force in recent years which are leading to a more professional and trusted service. I am delighted to see how the Malta Police force is today not only being recognised by the Maltese and Gozitan people but above all on an international level. Through these international exchange programmes, our officials are being given the opportunity to increase their awareness of innovative practices in the sector, with the aim of continuing to offer professional service to the Maltese and Gozitan people in a constantly evolving world.” – Commissioner Gafà.

These initiatives are part of the Malta Police force transformation Strategy (2020-2025) which, inter alia, ensures that police officers, at all levels of the organisation, continue to develop their best capabilities.