They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Despite the constructive principles underlying their introduction, there can be no doubt that, over the years, local wardens have caused more harm than good, instilling a deep sense of frustration in our communities rather than peace of mind.

Launched in February 2000, the local enforcement system was originally designed to rid the Police Force of the perceived burden of dealing with minor contraventions. Supposedly, this would give the police the opportunity to concentrate on tackling more serious forms of crime.

Notwithstanding all the good intentions, successive governments have failed to fine-tune the system. Local enforcement is inefficient, provokes countless complaints and petitions from residents and is more focused on generating revenue than ensuring the well-being of our communities.

It is high time that the local enforcement system is completely overhauled, starting with the most basic aspect of the system: the management and deployment of wardens should be returned to the responsibility of local councils.

Initially, each local council had the power to request the presence of local wardens in their community according to the specific needs of their locality. The system was administered by a number of purposely set-up joint committees made up of a number of local councils with the involvement of the private sector. The latter provided the entire IT infrastructure and the personnel required to administer the system.

Wardens should target the specific needs of each individual community

The decision to give local councils this important role was built on one fundamental premise: that local councils are best placed to decide on the needs of their localities.

It stands to reason that certain localities require a heavier presence of wardens than others. In some of the more rural localities, the presence of wardens is a complete waste of time and resources.

Fast forward to 2010. Five regional committees were formed and were handed responsibility for administering local enforcement, replacing the joint committees set up by local councils.

Under the present system, local wardens are sent to all localities irrespective of whether they are required there or not. To add insult to injury, since they are revenue-driven, local wardens are often found nitpicking with the most creative ‘contraventions’, simply to bolster their daily figures in areas where they need not be in the first place.

I was and still am opposed to this ridiculous system. Back in 2010, I had made my position known both within my party and also as a local councillor for Siġġiewi.

During a recent Cabinet meeting in Żebbuġ, I publicly urged the Prime Minister to deliver the much-needed reform of our local enforcement system, including redirecting the responsibility for local wardens to local councils. I did so because I believe that wardens should target the specific needs of each individual community; no one knows these needs better than locally-elected councils.

As a mayor, I can convincingly testify to the residents’ ability to self-regulate their behaviour in almost all circumstances. By way of example, residents of the historic centre of Siġġiewi have, for decades, regulated their own parking arrangements in what is a very densely populated part of our locality. This long-lived harmony among residents was disturbed by a recent spate of incomprehensible and rashly-issued contraventions by a number of local wardens on duty in the locality. I have already publicly declared that I do not believe Siġġiewi requires the presence of local wardens. Likewise, I have made it clear that I’m not interested in having local wardens as an extra revenue stream for the Siġġiewi local council. The police have repeatedly shown that their presence in Siġġiewi is enough to deal with one-off minor contraventions.

I believe local wardens would only be required in Siġġiewi in extraordinary circumstances, for a very limited period of time and with the sole aim of educating and guiding residents and visitors and without the constant threat of fines.

This is not a partisan matter but something relating to the good order of our localities. It is a position shared by several mayors and councillors from across the political divide.

If the government does indeed care about our communities, it must take the bull by the horns on this matter. Delaying or failing to implement this much-needed reform will leave just one option on the table: to scrap the system altogether.

Our communities deserve much better.

Karol Aquilina is mayor of Siġġiewi and president of the PN’s Administrative Council