'They frightened people': Byron Camilleri defends homeless arrests
Minister says multiple reports were received from people who felt threatened
The recent arrests of homeless individuals were not due to their homelessness, but because they were frightening members of the public, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri has said.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Camilleri explained that the arrests followed multiple complaints from the public.
“The offence is not that they are homeless, let me be clear. The offence is that they annoyed and even made people feel frightened,” the minister said.
He added: “I received many reports about this area from people including women and women with children who felt frightened.”
On June 4, twelve homeless individuals were charged in court after reports of loitering and aggressive begging between Decathlon and Pavi Supermarket in Qormi. Less than a week later, police arraigned and charged four more men with living an idle and vagrant life and with aggressive begging.
The CEO of YMCA described the initial arraignments as “a big shock”, calling the approach “almost unprecedented” in his 20 years working at the organisation.
However, Camilleri pushed back, noting that policing methods have evolved.
“Over the last few years the police have changed in terms of community policing and community engagement to be able to assist more,” he said.
The minister said the police had attempted to help the individuals and had worked with some NGOs, but the individuals had previously refused assistance.
“Multiple times, they were offered help, and they refused it. Hopefully, when they come back out they will accept that help,” Camilleri said.
Several NGOs have also criticised the authorities for not consulting them ahead of the arrests, claiming they were unaware the operations would take place.
However, the minister said the police had attempted to work with NGOs, although one organisation had previously declined to assist certain individuals.
Camilleri referred to a similar situation in Paceville last year, saying, “The response was negative. And this was from someone who attacked the head of police over the decision he took.”
While the minister did not name the NGO, sources within the Home Affairs Ministry told Times of Malta that it was the Church’s Migrants Commission.
The Migrants Commission was contacted for comment but has yet to respond.