The strong investment in technology that has taken place in recent years in the Public Service, as well as the sharp leap in public trust in governmental services, are also being reflected in the Police Corps and the Armed Forces.
This was stated by Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar in the first two of a series of visits to different workplaces, where he was shown around various sections within the Armed Forces and the Police Corps as part of Public Service Week 2020.
During these first two visits, ways of greater and more structured cooperation between the Army and the Police Force, as well as assistance to the two disciplined bodies by the central public administration, were discussed in order to improve operation and provide a better service to the people.
During the visit to the Armed Forces, the Principal Permanent Secretary was welcomed by Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi, who explained the strong investment made in recent years to provide the Armed Forces with state-of-the-art equipment. The first place visited by Mr Cutajar was the Maritime Section at Haywharf, where he was briefed about the newly refurbished patrol boat P61, vessel P24 and interceptor P2. He met the soldiers working at sea who explained the many different circumstances they encounter, which at times are dangerous. He also met MCAST students undergoing training in different sections of the Armed Forces in various crafts as well as engineering. He noted that here too, the Public Service will be offering the career that these youths so desire.
The Principal Permanent Secretary also visited the Army’s Air Wing in Luqa, where he saw the fleet of helicopters and planes. He followed robot training by the Explosives Section and inspected weapons and other equipment. Here too, in addition to pilots and soldiers, he met students who are aspiring for a career within the Public Service. He noted that contrary to what some people may think, the Armed Forces offer careers not limited only to the military aspect but also in engineering and maintenance.
During the visit to the Police Corps, the Principal Permanent Secretary was welcomed and accompanied by Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà. In Mtarfa, in a new office from where community policing is being operated in the area, Mr Cutajar was briefed about this concept, which is producing the desired results where it was introduced so far and has helped greatly to increase people’s trust in the Police. In the same way that the Public Service in recent years has brought its services closer to citizens in the community, so too, through community policing, the police are reaching out to communities and carrying out prevention and education work. Community policing has been active for the past year in Mellieħa and following the success achieved will be extended to various other localities. Here too, investment in technology is evident, with real-time systems that are helping the police in their work.
Mr Cutajar also visited the facilities at Ta’ Kandja where members of the Special Intervention Section (SIU) gave a practical demonstration of their work by taking part in simulations. The importance of continuous training is evident here, with members of this section expected to make life or death decisions in split seconds. Mr Cutajar also visited the Police General Headquarters, where he saw the new offices being set up for the Cyber Crime Unit and met the International Relations Unit employees working hand in hand with Interpol and Europol. Here too, technological investments are continuing in order to enable the Police to operate efficiently.
The Public Service Week 2020 runs until Friday 25th September, with the theme ‘Public Service Always At Hand’
