The Malta Police Association this morning has filed a judicial protest calling for the revocation of performance agreements within the force arguing that these will only serve to “undermine the independence and the integrity” of the force.

The issue revolves around an addendum to the conditions of service for the Police Force signed on October 29.

According to this addendum the appointments to the three highest ranks - Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner - would no longer be considered as “grades” but based “on a performance agreement at par with headship positions”.

As a result “all terms of conditions regulating headship positions, in force from time to time, shall henceforth apply to the aforementioned appointments” the agreement said.

In the judicial protest the Association remarked that such as an agreement was “unprecedented” in the history of the police force and harmed the interests of its members. It also protested that the changes in the conditions of work were in breach of the Police Act which regulated the conditions, rights and appointments of the Force.

It also remarked that the highest police officers should not depend on the “subjective discretion of the executive” (the government).

While expressing itself in favour to discuss ways on how to improve the performance of officers in the highest ranks, the Association said that such mechanisms were already in place, as stipulated by the Police Act.

It also noted that all attempts to find a solution and avoid a confrontation were futile. However the government was insisting in its refusal to withdraw this agreement, the protest said.

The Association warned that if the government would not withdraw the agreement it would hold it responsible for any consequences.

The judicial protest was filed against Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar and the Permanent Secretary at the Home Affairs Ministry Kevin Mahoney.