A new system has been implemented in the Civil Protection Department’s control room which will make the department more efficient when responding to emergencies.
With an investment of two million euro co-financed by EU funds, the new system, which is based on artificial intelligence, will allow firefighters to have access to emergency information immediately, whereas each vehicle will be equipped with a tablet that is always connected to the control room’s system.
Minister for Home Affairs, National Security and Law Enforcement Byron Camilleri explained how this investment is a testament to how much the government is committed to strengthening the resources of law enforcement. “Today, I am proud that this department is investing in the best equipment available on the market so that it always remains at the forefront of all technological advancements,” said Minister Camilleri.
Parliamentary Secretary Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said that this digital project co-financed by the European Union is part of a series of initiatives to further change government services and operations to more digital ones. He went on to say how this forms part of the ‘CONvErGE’ program.
Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi concluded by saying that one of the visions of the European Union and our country is the implementation of more digitalisation, and that this will be done in the near future in the way we will invest the new financial package 2021-2027 and funds for recovery and resilience.
Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar said that the first time he visited the CPD in 2013 and met the people who work there, he found demoralized workers, a lack of investment and, when any investment was made, it was always second-hand. It was a dilapidated department, devoid of human resources and completely abandoned.
Today, the Civil Protection Department is at its finest, and forms part of a Public Service that is at the forefront of society. This has happened with the major technological and infrastructural investments made in recent years and by investing in its workers, through specialised and accredited training, as well as through collective agreements.
Mr Cutajar explained that the government will continue building on these unprecedented investments in technology, which oversaw an expenditure over 150 million euro in recent years. The control room, which is now in operation, is another project that puts into practice two main objectives aimed at strengthening the Public Service. Artificial intelligence, where the software will be able to analyse the emergency, thus allocating resources according to the requirement and the Once Only Principle, by which any information that will be provided on 112 will not be asked for a second time.
He concluded by saying that this investment will lead to the Public Service continuing to reach people more efficiently 24 hours a day, all year round, smoothly and without confusing the customer.
