The Rapid Intervention Unit (RIU) and the Road Policing Unit (RPU) will be able to provide a better service, with an investment in a completely new fleet of vehicles. A total of 36 new vehicles, 30 vehicles for the RIU and six vehicles for the RPU, with an investment of more than two million euros.
The inauguration of this fleet was held by the Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Employment, Byron Camilleri, together with the Minister for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi.
This investment means that the number of vehicles available for these two sections has doubled, thereby substantially increasing Police capabilities and visibility across the country.
Minister Byron Camilleri stated that these vehicles, with the prevention strategy that the Police Force currently employs, their job is to be out on the road at all times. “Because as I have always stressed since the first day I took responsibility for this Ministry, my insistence has always been that we want to see our Police on the road, more than anything. A presence among the people. Because that is how there will be a relationship of trust, between the Police Force and the public.”
This is because, in the words of the Minister, it is in this way that the presence of the Police sends a message of reassurance, continues to serve as a deterrent and a point of reference for people. With all this, our country is today not only the safest in Europe and among the safest in the world with the lowest crime rate that our country has ever recorded.
It is an investment that, as Minister Camilleri concluded, is also part of the Malta Preparata strategy, “That is precisely why we are doubling the vehicles because we want to spread out further. We want to be more present while also offering better working conditions to the Police who will use them. They do their work in them for a whole day and therefore this renewal of the fleet is of the utmost importance. Therefore, this improvement also links to our relentless work to improve the conditions of the workers. New uniforms. Better vehicles. More modern, equipped and beautiful police stations and offices and above all, better wages.”
Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, stated that this investment clearly demonstrates how European Funds are being translated into a concrete strengthening of security in our country. He explained how, through a contribution of approximately €1 million from European Funds, 16 out of 30 specialized vehicles for the Rapid Intervention Unit have been co-financed, which are strengthening the operational capacity of the Police with a faster response and a more effective presence in communities.
The new vehicles are equipped with the latest technology and form part of the implementation of the “Malta Preparata” strategy, which focuses on continuous investment in security, prevention and the modernisation of the disciplined forces.
Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà stressed how this investment is translating into concrete and measurable results. In fact, over the past year, RIU officers have carried out more than 612,000 kilometres of patrols, while more than 3,400 road checks have been carried out — a substantial increase compared to previous years. In the same period, a reduction in serious traffic accidents and continuous positive trends in the crime rate have been recorded. “All this is a credit to dedicated and professional officers and fills us with courage and enthusiasm to continue investing in our people who are concretely returning the investment that the Maltese and Gozitan people are making in them so that by implementing our Safer Communities, Smarter Policing Strategy, we remain determined that our country remains among the safest countries in the world.”
The Road Policing Unit, which was established in recent years, has continued to be strengthened and is now fulfilling a broader role that includes not only the enforcement of traffic regulations, but also the investigation of serious traffic accidents. Officers in this unit have benefited from specialist training abroad and are being given more resources to continue to carry out their work with greater efficiency.
Recent measures, including the introduction of drug tests on the streets, have continued to strengthen the work towards greater security and protection for citizens.
Photos: MHSE-MFI/DOI
