The Opposition has called on the government to bring into force provisions of a 2002 law which would enable people under arrest to seek assistance by a lawyer.

The shadow ministers of justice and of home affairs, Jose' Herrera and Michael Falzon respectively, this morning gave notice of a private members' motion calling on the government to bring this part of the law into force within 30 days.

They pointed out that this provision was unanimously approved when the law was enacted, and the police had said they were ready for its implementation.

It was shameful, they said, that the government had not brought this provision into force in seven years.

Nationalist MP Franco Debono has said that one of the reasons why he kept away from a vote in Parliament last week was to press the government on this issue because he feels strongly on assistance to people under police arrest.

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