Structure, functions and responsibilities: The Organizational chart of the Malta Police Force may be accessed through
https://pulizija.gov.mt/en/police-force/Pages/Organisational-Chart.aspx.
The Mission of the Malta Police Force is ‘to provide a professional and trusted policing service to ensure safety and security in partnership with the community’ with the vision 'for the community to trust us in ensuring a safe and secure society for everyone'.
Legally, we can manage to do this by;
(a) preserving public order and peace, preventing the commission of offences, promoting and enforcing the observance of the laws, as a first guarantee of the rights of all persons in Malta, even before action is needed through the judicial system to repress, sanction or remedy any breach;
(b) responding immediately to any request for the protection and intervention of
the law;
(b) applying the law without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status;
(c) promoting the orderly and peaceful coexistence of all persons in Malta, paying due attention not only to private property rights but also to public property;
(d) seeking to protect the environment as part of the common good;
(e) assisting, within reasonable limits, any person seeking the help of a police or other public officer even though the ultimate responsibility to provide such help may not lie with the Force;
(f) performing honestly and effectively all those duties assigned to it by this Act or by any other law.
General description of the categories of documents held (including exempt documents) The Malta Police holds documents falling under the following categories:
1. Criminal Records
Investigation documents relating to criminal offences:
Investigating officer’s reports;
Statements of suspects and witnesses;
Scene of Crime documents and photographs;
Medical Certificates and Psychological reports;
Documents from other Public Authorities relating to a criminal investigation
2. Judicial documents: Procés Verbal:
Charges:
Traffic offence Tickets (TOT’s)
3. Police Incident Reporting System (NPS) 4. Human Resources: Personal information on Police Officers
Public Service and disciplinary proceedings
5. Internal Circulars/Standing Orders/Letter Minutes. 6. Internal Inquiries ordered by the Commissioner of Police.
7. Documents from other Public Authorities relating to administrative measures/procedures. 8. Police Board Reports (The Police Board as set up under Article 48 of the Police Act 9. Ombudsman recommendations. 10. License and/or Permits issued by the Commissioner of Police. 11. Protocols with government and non-governmental agencies. 12. Industrial Relations Malta Police Union (MPU)
Police Officers Union (POU)
International Police Association (IPA)
Malta Association of Retired Police Officers (MARPO)
13. Finance & Contracts: Police equipment
Extra duty payments
14. International Police Cooperation documents. 15. Local Council meetings reports. 16. Immigration: Submission of Visa Applications
Removal Orders
17. Parliamentary questions related to the Police 18. Identity Cards 19. Passenger Name Records (PNR)
Description of manuals and similar types of documents which contain policies, principles or rules or guidelines held by the Malta Police in accordance with which decisions or recommendations are made in respect of members of the PublicGHQ Circular No: 20/07 – QMS 25/06 dated 20th February 2007 – Guidelines re: use of Pepper Spray The circular deals with guidelines regulating the tactical use of pepper spray. It embraces eleven guiding principles that Police Officers furnished with such apparatus must observe.
The circular gives instructions on the use of such apparatus, and the non observance would amount to the possibility that disciplinary action be instituted on those officers failing to abide.
GHQ Circular No: 114/95 – PS/125/95 dated 20th December1995 – Guidelines for the Police on the issue and use of firearms The circular enlists a number of guidelines that the Police must follow in the case of issue and use of firearms. These guidelines vary from the basic principles in which the use of firearms may occur i.e. that the use of firearms shall be only the last resort after all other means fail to have effect. In case that such use is unavoidable the circular enlists the procedure in order to minimize the possible damage and injury. Enlisted one finds also the instructions when policing unlawful assemblies, policing persons in custody or detention, the principles governing issue and the principles governing use together with the conditions of issue and use.
GHQ Circular 54/2002 – HR/150/01 dated 31/05/2002 – Searches on the Person The circular delineates some guidelines to be followed by Police personnel whenever a search on a person is required. This comprises; the action before a search is carried out, the conduction of a search, when strip searches need to be performed and cases of intimate searches.
GHQ Circular No: 31/06 – PS/97/80 Vol.III dated 16th March 2006 – New Procedure re-payment by third parties for extra duty on payment This circular outlines instructions regarding the instances when third parties, to whom extra duty service was rendered by members of the Force either fail to pay the payment/s due, or else take ages to effect payment.
GHQ Circular 143/08 – P.463/03 dated 23rd September 2008 and GHQ Circular No: 7/09 – P.463/03 dated 22nd January 2009 – ‘Tazer Guns’ These two circulars deal with ‘Tazer Guns’. They incorporate the procedure and guidelines stating; when should not be used, if used the procedure to be followed and other important rules.
GHQ Circular No: 86/2001 – P.2152/01 dated 18th September 2001 – Proceedings before the Juvenile Court Apart from the procedure regarding those cases falling within the remit of the Juvenile Court, the circular delineates also the procedure which in cases of petty offences committed by young persons a warning by the Superintendent of the District/Division involved upon direct orders by the Commissioner of Police may be administered instead of Court action.
GHQ Circular no: 177/06 – P.26/06 dated 23rd December 2006 – Applications for one time events – parties This circular outlines the procedure for the processing of permits for the holding of any disco, ball, dance or any other similar activity. These activities require a permit from the Commissioner of Police and this circular outlines the procedure to be followed.
GHQ Circular No. 21/10 – P 6732/72/31 – Guidelines on the rights of access to a lawyer Article 355AT of the criminal code provides that an arrested person as early as practicable shall be informed by the Police of the right that if he/she so requests may consult privately a lawyer or a legal procurator in person or by telephone not exceeding one hour. Should the person in custody decide to consult a lawyer of his/her own choice, the person in custody should indicate to the police which lawyer should be contacted. If within 15 minutes the police do not manage to make contact with any lawyer indicated by the person held in custody, than the Police shall make contact with the legal aid lawyer on duty.
Should the person in custody choose to consult a lawyer but does not indicate to the Police any particular lawyer, the Police shall contact the legal aid lawyer on duty.
Code of Ethics The Malta Police had published a Code of Ethics. The primary aim of this code is to guide the police how to behave with the general public. This Code may be accessed by clicking on this link:
https://pulizija.gov.mt/en/police-force/Pages/Code-of-Ethics.aspx.
Code of Practice for Interrogation of Arrested Persons This code regulates the interrogation by police officers of arrested persons. The mentioned code is incorporated in Schedule IV of the Police Act Chapter 164 and may be accessed electronically by following this link:
http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=8686.
Statement of the information that needs to be available to members of the public who wish to obtain access to official documentsThe FOI Officer of the Malta Police Force may be contacted by e-mail
foi.police@gov.mt or by telephone 22942663.
FOI Requests may be submitted by e-mail to
foi.police@gov.mt, through the FOI Portal
www.foi.gov.mt via the e-ID or through the online form.
Internal Complaints Procedure: An applicant whose request for information is refused, or who is otherwise not satisfied with the information provided, its format or the extension of the deadline for the submission of the requested information may address a complaint to the Malta Police Force FOI Officer, who shall bring the complaint to the attention of the officer/unit responsible.
The officer/unit responsible shall reply to the applicant within 10 working days from the receipt of the complaint.
In addition, the applicant shall be also informed that he or she may appeal the decision or otherwise address a complaint to the Information and Data Protection Commissioner in accordance with the FOI Act – Cap 496 of the Laws of Malta.
Other Information: Complaints may be submitted to the Public Authority by e-mail to
foi.police@gov.mt, through the FOI portal
www.foi.gov.mt via the e-ID or through the online form.
Payments can be made in cash or by cheque at the Finance Department of the Malta Police Force at address indicated above. Any cheques should be payable to the Commissioner of Police.
Malta Police Force Contact Details:Address:
Police General Headquarters
Pjazza San Kalcidonju
Floriana FRN 1530
Malta
Telephone number: (+356) 21224001-9
E-Mail: foi.police@gov.mt Website: www.pulizija.gov.mt