Violence against police officers was discussed at a meeting of the European Confederation of Police, EuroCOP, which was held in Malta, and hosted by the Malta Police Union. The meeting focused both on the alarming increase of physical, verbal and virtual attacks on the police as well as the need to start collecting statistics on acts of violence against the police in Europe in order to train programs for police are trimmed more.
Minister for the Interior, Security and Work Byron Camilleri said that violence against police officers needs to be fought in every way and countries have an obligation to give the -all possible help to reduce it. He referred to what has been experienced in Malta in recent years and the effects of the introduction of bodycams worn by the Maltese police in 2021.
“The introduction of bodycams three years ago gave more means of protection to the police in order to establish the facts, while the videos taken by this equipment are very useful even in court proceedings. This has led to this tool being beneficial and protective both for police officers and even for the public. This has led to the police officer being more protected, the incidents have decreased, and the baseless allegations that have been experienced many times in the past have also been reduced,” said Minister Camilleri.
EuroCOP is an organization that brings together thirty unions of police bodies from various European countries and represents the interests of more than a quarter of a million police officers from twenty-five European countries.
Photos: MHSE
