Deputy Police Commissioner Ray Zammit will head a new local enforcement agency tasked with putting an end to abusive practices by wardens, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said.

Addressing a news conference this afternoon, Dr Bonnici said the agency would liaise between all the different entities involved in overseeing wardens and would eventually become the regulator.

He said there was currently no single entity tasked with keeping an eye on the private companies which offered the warden service. This had been flagged by the Labour Party before the 2013 general election and the reform would put an end to wardens dishing out excessive citations, he added.

“This reform will put citizens concerns at its forefront,” he said, adding that meetings with operators and unions were going to be held.

Asked about Mr Zammit’s credibility for the role after his shortcomings in the shooting case involving former minister Manuel Mallia, Dr Bonnici said this new role had nothing to do with what had happened.

Mr Zammit had been made to resign from his position as acting police commissioner after he had failed in his duties and his course of action helped to strengthen cover-up claims.

Dr Bonnici, however, defended Mr Zammit’s new appointment saying he had several years experience in policing traffic related issues and was the right man for the job.