Last updated 8.27pm with shadow minister’s reaction below.
Eight police officers from Italy will be assisting Maltese police officers on patrols of Paceville and other tourist areas for the next month.
Paceville has long faced concerns that the area has become increasingly unsafe, with perceptions rife that the clubbing district has witnessed an increase in the prevalence of antisocial behaviour.
The Italian officers will be focused on maintaining public order and assisting Italian nationals, with most patrols taking place in tourist areas, mainly St Julian’s and Valletta.
The officers had been selected “for their ability to operate effectively in multicultural and tourist-heavy environments”, and they will remain in Malta until August 17.
Their assignment to Malta was coordinated by Italy’s International Police Cooperation Service (SCIP) of the Central Directorate of Criminal Police and the Office of the Security Expert at the Italian Embassy in Malta.
The operation is part of an agreement between Malta’s police force and the Italian Department of Public Security signed in December to strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ police forces.
The agreement, mainly focused on combatting transnational organised crime, includes joint training, exchanges of knowledge – including on public order – and the creation of working groups between Italian and Maltese police.
The Home Affairs Ministry said the initiative is intended to tackle areas with the highest influx of tourists, most particularly Italian-speaking tourists.
The operation involves eight Polizia di Stato officers, deployed in two rotations: four officers from July 21 to August 3, and another four from August 4 to 17.
“These officers, uniformed, unarmed, and without executive powers, will operate alongside their Maltese counterparts to conduct preventative patrols and public order duties, while also assisting Italian nationals in the area,” the ministry said.
The joint patrols aim to foster stronger cooperation between the two police forces, focusing on integrated security and crime prevention. Their duties will include facilitating contact with Italian diplomatic and consular representatives, and engaging with local institutions.
“This is the first time such an initiative is being trialled in Malta, with the expectation that it may be repeated in future summer seasons. The Italian officers selected for this operation come from various operational units across Italy. They bring with them solid professional experience, both in operational roles and international assignments, as well as strong language capabilities that will support effective communication with both their Maltese colleagues and members of the public.”
All officers participating in the joint patrols are fully qualified, ranging from officers to sergeants and inspectors and possess extensive experience in public order and crime prevention operations. Many have previously taken part in similar joint patrol missions across Europe.
The ministry stressed the deployment is not connected to any specific incident or situation, but is a proactive initiative aligned with the Malta Police Force’s Transformation Strategy 2020–2025. It supports key objectives such as strengthening international cooperation, advancing community policing practices, and modernising approaches to public safety.
The Malta Police Force also maintains other international agreements and offers assistance abroad. In fact, Maltese officers have recently participated in joint patrols in France, further demonstrating the force’s commitment to mutual cooperation and international public safety efforts, the ministry said.
The Italian officers are understood to be being brought in to deal with an explosion in the number of tourists. File photo: Chris Sant Fournier.As Paceville has become busier over the past decade, transforming from a relaxed nightlife location into a busy clubbing mecca, perceptions of the entertainment district have shifted to viewing the area as a hotspot for brawls and other unruly behaviour.
And news reports show such incidents are not entirely uncommon in the area; last month, a magistrate had to remind two Spanish tourists that holidays were for fun, not fighting, after they were involved in a brawl that left a third man with grievous injuries.
And in February, three men were injured in connection with a Paceville fight that saw three police officers slightly injured. A Marsascala man was tasered after smashing a glass bottle, while a Żabbar man was arrested after turning on police.
Meanwhile, in August last year, three Colombian men were left injured, one seriously, after a brawl in the clubbing district in the early hours of the morning.
In October 2022, police told Times of Malta that the situation in the district was “nowhere near as bad as people think it is,” however, arguing that social media videos had exaggerated negative perceptions of the area.
Valletta has witnessed several isolated fights between teenagers over the past few years.
Shadow minister demands explanations
The shadow minister for tourism, Mario de Marco in a Facebook post demanded explanations from the tourism and home affairs ministers.
“What type of tourists are we attracting to Malta if they need to be accompanied by police from their home country? And why isn’t the police corps able to maintain law and order in our country? he asked.