Have you seen this French police officer patrolling Malta's streets?
French policeman to assist Malta police in July, Italian officers expected in August
A French police officer will join the Malta police force throughout in July as part of an intra-police exchange programme, police said on Saturday.
In August, around four Italian police officers will also be in Malta assisting the local force.
"After Maltese police officers assisted the French Police in France in June of last year as part of a United Nations conference security operation, this month a French police officer will be in Malta to assist the Police Force.
The foreign officers will continue wearing uniforms from their countries and will have no powers of arrest. They will also not have a weapon holstered.
"They will operate alongside their Maltese colleagues on preventive patrols and duties related to public order".
"The request for foreign police corps to send officers to Malta through exchanges shows the strong collaboration that exists between the respective law enforcement forces," police said.
It is understood that the officer will be detailed to touristic areas and will be tasked with dealing with French tourists and any concerns they may have.
At the same time, he will be observing how the Maltese corps operates in its day-to-day operations.
Sources said exchanges between Malta's police corps and forces abroad are not uncommon and function similarly to popular student exchanges like Erasmus.
Last summer, eight police officers from Italy will be assisting Maltese police officers on patrols of Paceville and other tourist areas for the next month.