Deploying another 100 policemen in Paceville will still not be enough to control the hub of crime, according to Acting Police Commissioner Ray Zammit.

“This isn’t an issue of a shortage of officers. I’m not saying more resources will not help but it is definitely not the solution,” he said, adding this would simply label the area and escalate matters.

Mr Zammit was reacting to officers’ complaints that the St Julian’s station was stretched so thin it could barely cope with the daily flood of reports. 

“I think the main issue is that a lot of youths who frequent the area are careless and irresponsible, he said."  

He was referring to the type of crime that was reported and which involved the bigger part of the police paperwork. To illustrate his argument, he mentioned the “explosion” of pickpocketing and bag snatching cases.  

“Do you know how many people tell me their phone was stolen when they left their handbag on the floor or at the bar? What do they expect? Young people need to be more prudent,” he said. Processing such incidents clogged up the force’s administrative system.

Mr Zammit said, however that in a bid to ease the burden at police stations like St Julian’s, two mobile stations will be available in Paceville and Marsascala as from this week.

More in Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.