The Government has lost control of security in our communities

Closed police stations, police officers leaving the service, and a sharp rise in drug trafficking are the result of a Government that is failing to protect people

The Labour Government can no longer try to make us believe that security in Malta is in a good state when people are finding police stations closed, when communities are being left without a permanent Police presence, when many members of the disciplined forces are losing heart and leaving the service, and when the scourge of drugs continues to grow at an alarming rate.

This was the main message delivered during a press conference by the Partit Nazzjonalista on security in our country, addressed by PN candidates Beppe Fenech Adami, Edmond Cuschieri and Frank Anthony Tabone, following yesterday’s announcement by Partit Nazzjonalista Leader Alex Borg of a series of strong proposals through which a new Nationalist Government would give a Fresh Start to security in Malta and Gozo.

Beppe Fenech Adami said that the Labour Government has spent years promising more security, a stronger presence in communities, more respect towards the disciplined forces, and greater investment in essential services. Yet what people are seeing is very different: closed police stations, a lack of resources, forces under pressure, demotivated officers, and families without peace of mind.

He said that the Partit Nazzjonalista has great respect for police officers, soldiers, prison officers, Civil Protection officers and all members who, every day, carry out their duties with great dedication despite a lack of planning, a lack of investment, and conditions which often fail to do them justice. This must be recognised by giving them the wages and conditions they deserve.

This will be done through a comprehensive package of measures, including improved wages and conditions, a scheme through which those who continue serving after 25 years would start receiving their service pension together with their salary, an annual review of pensions so that they are linked to two-thirds of the current salary of the respective rank, a cost-of-living adjustment for retired members, an independent board to address injustices, and a scheme to encourage former members of the disciplined forces to rejoin the service.

Edmond Cuschieri spoke about the need for police stations to once again be at the heart of our communities, as they always were. He said that one cannot speak about security in our localities when there is a whole list of towns and villages where police stations have been closed or no longer offer the service residents need.

He recalled that in a country with a population that is growing every day, with more complex communities and with new challenges related to crime, noise, vandalism, theft and trafficking, the presence of the Police in the locality is not a luxury but a basic need. Community Policing has a very important role and should continue to be strengthened, but it cannot be used as an excuse to close police stations or to send residents to other localities when they need to file a report or seek help. Not every resident can easily travel from one locality to another to file a report, and many end up giving up and not reporting anything at all.

The Partit Nazzjonalista is proposing that police stations be reopened in towns and villages across Malta and Gozo, that the Community Policing system be integrated with the police station network, and that Community Policing offices once again become police stations that fully serve people. A new Nationalist Government would also invest in modernising police stations so that residents find a welcoming environment, and so that police officers have the setting and resources they need to work with dignity.

Frank Anthony Tabone said that Robert Abela may say many things in words, but the statistics tell a different story. According to the Annual Crime Review published in 2026, in 2025 there was a 70% increase in drug-related cases, including a 62% increase in drug importation, a 54% increase in possession with intent to traffic, an 81% increase in possession, and a 111% increase in trafficking. These are not just figures — they are evidence that the scourge of drugs is infiltrating our communities further and is directly affecting families, parents and young people.

He said that the Government can no longer speak about security for propaganda purposes when the facts show a different reality. Serious action is needed against traffickers and criminal networks, together with a humane and effective policy of prevention, education and rehabilitation for victims of drugs.

For this reason, the Partit Nazzjonalista is proposing intelligent enforcement against drug trafficking through investment in advanced technology at our ports and modern systems that help dismantle criminal networks. Measures must target traffickers and organised crime, while strengthening educational, prevention and rehabilitation programmes.

He referred in particular to the situation in Gozo, where up to 2013, when the island’s population was far smaller, there were 130 police officers. Today, with a much larger population and greater challenges, this number has fallen below 100. This is apart from the fact that the Labour Government dismantled the specialised squad against drug trafficking. In a country facing ever-growing problems of drug trafficking, both in Malta and in Gozo, a Nationalist Government is determined to re-establish a dedicated squad to fight this scourge.

National security must be viewed in a holistic manner. A new Nationalist Government would therefore invest strategically in the Armed Forces of Malta, including in modern technology, training and adequate resources in areas such as cyber security, national defence, emergency response, and search and rescue. It is unacceptable for the Armed Forces of Malta to be left with only one helicopter that has to cope with anything that may arise across our islands, with the risk that the Army would have to choose between one emergency and another happening at the same time.

For the PN, security is not a slogan. Security means a mother having peace of mind that her son can walk in the street without fear. It means an elderly person knowing that, when they need help, they will find an open police station in their community. It means police officers and members of the disciplined forces feeling respected, paid as they deserve, and equipped to do their job — not demotivated and ready to leave the service. It means a country that does not close its eyes to drugs and organised crime.

For the Partit Nazzjonalista, your security matters. A Nationalist Government will give a Fresh Start to security in Malta and Gozo by investing in the forces and in the resources needed so that you can live better.

13.05.2026