Home Affairs Ministry says on-the-spot fines legal notice out 'shortly'

The Home Affairs Ministry says a legal notice regarding on-the-spot fines for tourists will be published "shortly" after having promised to implement it by 1 June before the general election was called.

Last May, the government promised on-the-spot fines would be introduced by 1 June in a bid to curb anti-social behaviour by non-residents. Nonetheless, with the election having been called, the legislation was never introduced.

"Regarding the on the spot fines a legal notice will be published shortly," a ministry spokesperson said without giving a time frame.

For residents living in localities such as Swieqi, where short-stay tourists staying in apartments are causing mayhem, the new legislation cannot come any sooner. Swieqi residents have recounted to MaltaToday their frustration with young tourists and their anger at being ignored by the authorities.

Asked about enforcement in Swieqi, the ministry spokesperson said a Community Policing Team in Swieqi maintains a presence throughout the day, while night patrols have now also been introduced.

The ministry said a dedicated police team in Paceville provides 24-hour coverage in the area and now requires even more reinforcement, consequently receiving a deployment of additional officers from 10pm until the early hours of the morning.

The Rapid Intervention Unit (RIU) is present in St Julian’s to provide immediate assistance when required, the ministry said, adding that the Paceville area is also supported by the K9 Section and the Mounted Unit.

But while praising the Community Policing Team’s night patrols, residents insisted that the "two or three" officers deployed in the locality are not enough to keep up with the scale of the disruption.

"The police help us a lot," Swieqi Mayor Noel Muscat said. "But they work with the tools they are given. Parliament makes the laws."

And residents say local police are "itching" for on-the-spot fines to be introduced. "The longer they take to make a decision, the worse it’s going to get," Muscat warned.