Ciao! Italian police officers surprise compatriots on Valletta's streets
First joint patrols held with the Malta police
Italian police officers surprised compatriots when they showed up on the beat with Maltese officers in Valletta on Tuesday.
The plans for the joint patrols were revealed by Times of Malta on Monday and have become a controversy among the political parties.
The police said the presence of the Italian officers is a consequence of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in December 2024 with Italy’s Polizia di Stato.
Ciao! A joint patrol of Maltese and Italian police officers meets Italian tourists in Republic Street.The collaborative effort is aimed at increasing police visibility in busy areas, assisting Italian tourists visiting Malta and enhancing coordination between the two forces.
Four uniformed Italian officers will be working alongside Maltese district and community policing teams in Valletta and St Julian’s until August 17, when they will be replaced by another four officers for a similar period.
"Their presence will offer opportunities for mutual learning and operational exchanges, help facilitate communication with Italian-speaking tourists, and reinforce a proactive, community-focused approach to public safety, the police said.
"These officers, although unarmed and without executive powers, bring with them extensive experience in public order and international cooperation," the corps added.
Maltese Police officers recently participated in similar joint patrols in Nice, France.
The thin blue line. Italian and Maltese officers patrol under a blazing sun at City Gate.