Two new assistant police commissioners

Superintendents Emanuel Cassar and Godfrey Scicluna were yesterday appointed assistant police commissioners.

They both have some 30 years' experience in the police force.

Mr Cassar joined the police as a constable in 1969, was appointed inspector in 1988 and served both in districts as well as in the Criminal Investigation Department. He was later promoted to superintendent.

Between 1995 and 1997, Mr Cassar was appointed acting director of prisons and was later confirmed as director. He is now expected to head the CID branch.

Mr Scicluna joined as constable in 1970, was promoted to sergeant in 1981 and inspector in 1988. He also served in the security branch. In 1996 he was promoted to superintendent and served in the drug squad.

Mr Scicluna was last year appointed assistant head of the security service, a post he still occupies.

Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg presented the letters of appointment at police headquarters in Floriana.

The appointments were immediately criticised by the Labour spokesman for home affairs Gavin Gulia.

He said a number of other superintendents who had seniority had been overlooked for promotion, calling the appointments "purely partisan".