Police union has reservations about declaration of interests

The Police Officers’ Union has demanded a meeting with police chief Michael Cassar to clarify the circular issued last week in which all police officers were ordered to declare their commercial interests.

“In principle I agree with declaring all interests because I’m for absolute transparency but we have demanded a meeting with the Police Commissioner because the circular is very vague,” union president Sandro Camilleri told MaltaToday.

The circular ordering a declaration of interests as required by law was issued 24 hours before the publication of an inquiry into the involvement of former inspector Daniel Zammit in the investigations of a 2008 murder.

Among its conclusions, the inquiry said that Zammit, his father, the former acting commissioner Ray, and his brother and police inspector Roderick, all failed to ask for permission to enter into private business relationships, opening them up to conflicts of interest.

In the circular, police chief Michael Cassar asked all officers to submit their declarations in writing by 10 August. But Camilleri said the circular is vague and makes no distinction between interests which are in conflict with the officers’ job and “innocuous” part-time jobs.

The circular ordered officers to declare “all business, trade and financial activity” with the only exception being investments in the Malta Stock Exchange and commercial banks.

“Firstly, the law already prohibits officers from activities which cause conflicts and this circular was only sent in reaction to the inquiry which exposed the corps’ failings,” Camilleri said. 

The law prohibits police officers from holding jobs or interests which could lead to a conflict with their job unless written permission is obtained from the police commissioner.

However, Camilleri said all requests for the sanctioning of part-time jobs, including manual jobs, are indiscriminately turned down.

Arguing that “not every activity is in conflict with our job,” Camilleri said that while all interests should be declared, officers should be allowed to hold part-time jobs which do not create conflicts.

“What’s wrong with an officer doing the odd plumbing job or what’s wrong with being a part-time athlete or musician?” Camilleri asked, adding that part-time police officers are allowed to work other part-time jobs.

“If an officer drives expensive cars or owns a luxury yacht, then this should be investigated, but you cannot place a blanket ban and prohibit all part-time jobs,” he said.

This was especially unfair, Camilleri said, when taking the average police wages into account. “Why should police officers be denied the opportunity to make more money for their family if there is nothing illicit or no conflict involved?”

Taking himself as an example, Camilleri said that while carrying out his duties as a prosecution officer on a €1,500 salary he faces lawyers who earn fabulous wages.

Citing the Daniel Zammit inquiry’s findings, the union chief said the lack of a wage reform and the ban on holding part-time jobs could lead to abuse of power and corruption within the corps.

To date, the police commissioner has not set a date for a meeting, the union chief said, adding that the union will be taking an official stand only after clarifying a number of matters with Cassar.

“We want to know how it will work out and whether all activities will be deemed as unacceptable. What will happen if an officer’s wife owns a small family business?” he said, adding that the union believes that police officers should set an example to the rest of society by being accountable and transparent.