Organised crime behind intercoms’ code, says police chief Ray Zammit

With concern rising about a threefold increase in crime in Malta, Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi blamed home affairs minister Manuel Mallia of having authored “vindictive transfers” within the police force, leaving residents in crime-stricken localities with the short end of the stick.

A Eurobarometer survey revealed for the first time ever that concern on crime in Malta had increased to 17% - surpassing the EU average of 12%. Police sources say that this concern has been fuelled by a recent spate of burglaries allegedly carried out by a gang of five men of Romanian and Bulgarian nationality in Sliema. Sliema local councillor Marianne Aquilina told MaltaToday that elderly residents were afraid to leave their homes.

Hosted on TVM’s Reporter by presenter Saviour Balzan, Azzopardi claimed that less officers are being stationed at police stations and that police presence is lacking “on the ground”

“I had foreseen this increase in crime back in May 2013, when I insisted in parliament that the transfers within the police force may increase crime. I was ignored, and unfortunately, what I foresaw in May 2013 is now turning to reality,” Azzopardi claimed.

The home affairs shadow minister also took umbrage at the reinstatement of former police officers, and said that anyone who is “not up to scratch” must be removed.

Rebutting the claims, Minister Manuel Mallia underlined that there was no political interference in the transfers, and claimed that he did not interfere in the police commissioner’s decisions.

While defending the transfers, Mallia was adamant that these were only carried out to meet the demands of the job. Echoing the minister, acting police Commissioner Ray Zammit said that even though transfers are being carried out, police personnel are not decreasing in number.

Intercom signs directly related to organised crime and gangs – Acting Police Commissioner

Hosted on TVM’s Reporter, acting police commissioner Ray Zammit said that the suspicious signs – which allegedly are used to alert robbers about the possessions inside a house and the residents’ habits – are directly related to gangs and organised crime in Sliema and St Julian’s.

Whereas police sources have reported that a gang of five men of Bulgarian and Romanian nationality are using a device called a “bump key” to get into apartments and burgle them before making off with all their possessions, residents in St Julian’s and Sliema have reported “suspicious” signs being scribbled onto their intercoms.

Asked by presenter Saviour Balzan whether these signs are directly linked to the suspected perpetrators behind the burglaries, Zammit said that these are “connected,” and also explained that these emanate from a “foreign culture.”

“Prior to this increase in thefts, two foreign gangs were apprehended. Today there is a good-sized group that not only includes foreign members, but may also include Maltese,” Zammit said, while insisting that the police are making inroads in catching the thieves.

Describing the increase in thefts as “preoccupying”, home affairs minister Manuel Mallia insisted that the government is committed to tackling the increase in crime.

“We can no longer deny the increase in thefts and organised crime. The number of police officials has increased to 2,023, while further police patrols and undercover police will be deployed,” he said.