De Gray's police appointment in 1956 a 'calculated risk'

The appointment of Vivien De Gray as police commissioner in June 1956 was described by the prime minister of the time, Dom Mintoff, as "a calculated risk by Cabinet", a new book - A History of the Malta Police 1800-1964 - reveals.

The book, by police historian Edward Attard, shows how Mr De Gray, who had several disagreements with Mr Mintoff, had also wanted to charge then opposition leader George Borg Olivier "with incitement to commit murder" over remarks made at a public meeting in 1959 but was advised against such action by the legal secretary, Denis Stephens, who felt that Dr Borg Olivier's statement was just an opinion.

Dr Borg Olivier had, according to Mr De Gray, used threatening words against the members of the Council of Government when he said: "I make one recommendation to the governor, that for those Maltese he intends to have with him in the new council, he should take out a good insurance policy".

Mr De Gray felt that Dr Borg Olivier was declaring that persons who wished to remain alive and in good health must not join the nominated council which was to be set up under the new Constitution.

Before Mr De Gray's appointment, the British colonial authorities had wanted a Briton to be police commissioner and lengthy correspondence ensued between Mr Mintoff and the British government.

At Mr Mintoff's request, Mr De Gray drew up a long and detailed memorandum explaining why the police should be in the hands of the Maltese government. The memo was so strongly worded that Mr Mintoff, who had used most of the arguments himself, actually toned it down, the book says.

When he got his way and went ahead with the appointment of Mr De Gray, Mr Mintoff even went against the recommendations of a British adviser, sent at his own request, who had also said it was best to appoint a Briton.

Mr Mintoff wrote to Mr Attard to say that the appointment was a calculated risk when Mr Attard presented him with his first book on the history of the police force, which had dealt with events up to 1956.

The new book also recounts the events leading to Mr Mintoff's resignation in April 1958, including how the police had to use the mounted section and batons to quash riots at the time.

Mr Mintoff had demanded an explanation from Mr De Gray but Mr De Gray avoided speaking to Mr Mintoff and spoke to Governor Robert Laycock, who wanted to know whether he could ensure public order without the use of batons and the mounted police. Mr De Gray's reply was a flat "no" and the governor told Mr De Gray that security was in his hands.

It was only then that Mr De Gray spoke with Mr Mintoff. When Mr De Gray informed him he would obey the Crown, Mr Mintoff told him he was going to be removed and the Cabinet met on the following day and decided in favour of his removal.

Mr Mintoff went on Rediffusion and declared that Mr De Gray had been removed and that all that was required was the British government's signature. But the governor went on Rediffusion to declare that Mr De Gray would stay.

The book deals with other political issues that would make readers think that history really repeats itself.

During the 1927 general election, the police searched the headquarters of the Constitutional Party but nothing was found. Another search was made at the La Vallette Philharmonic Society Club, of which Sir Ugo Mifsud was president and 32 batons of the same type used by the police were found.

A police officer who in 1924 stopped an illegal spontaneous demonstration in favour of Minister Giovanni Adami was beaten up and when he filed a report the police commissioner proceeded against him instead and fined him £15.

When Lord Strickland was elected prime minister in 1927, he gave the policeman the £15 back and suspended the police commissioner about the case.

The book also deals with crimes that shocked the nation, such as the theft of the drydocks wages and a murder case solved after 22 years. It also mentions a frame-up that took place in 1938 and notes how the Chief Justice, Sir Arturo Mercieca, had deplored the methods used by the police in their interrogation. The suspect was interrogated for long hours, dragged out of the bed of his cell at night for further interrogation and placed in a cell that stank horribly after a dead cat was placed in the lavatory next to his cell.

Although the book chronicles police history until 1994, it has a number of appendices listing all the policemen who died or were killed during the course of their duty, the ministers responsible for the police corps and police commissioners and the medals and insignia used by the corps.