Police stations are a common sight in Malta and Gozo. In fact you can find at least one in every village and town. They have numerous responsibilities and duties to maintain law and order in the country. A good number of policemen are situated in the district offices but a high percentage of officers also work in specialised sectors. Some of these divisions include the CID (Criminal Investigation Department), drug squad, forensics, traffic section, cyber crime, dog and mounted section, RIU (Rapid Intervention Unit), economic crimes unit and protective services. These departments assist the district police officers according to their specialisation.

Services

Crime:

The Police Force is responsible for crime investigation and collecting all sorts of evidence. Upon receiving a tip or a report on any suspicious activity which could lead to an investigation, the police will deal with it accordingly. If you’re a victim of any form of attack, be it a break-in, mugging, a threat, or even rape, you should go to the nearest police station to file a report. You will be required to describe the ordeal you’ve just been through and they will in turn ask additional questions to get as many facts as possible to help them in their investigation. After filing the investigation, the offenders are then taken to court.

Order:
Maintaining public order is an important pillar of their job. They provide security in national events which see thousands of people congregating in one specific region such as religious feasts, political meetings, sport matches and concerts. They are also allowed to do searches on a person if they look suspicious. On a more micro-scale, you’ll also be required to book a policeman for security reasons if you plan on inviting hundreds of people to your wedding. The presence of officers around famous nightlife areas around Malta and Gozo is also noticeable and is crucial especially when they need to intervene in drunken brawls.

Traffic:
Police officers from the traffic department are responsible for managing traffic in the peak hours of our busy island. They are called in to assist to traffic accidents when there are injuries sustained. Setting up roadblocks is an essential task they do to stop illegal and unsafe driving.

Documents:
If you need official documents, you can send a request form to the police. Whether you need criminal records, investigation and judicial documents, incident reports, standing orders, internal inquiries, local council meeting reports or information on police officers, the police would be able to process any request you may have.

Lost and Found:
Whether you’ve just lost your wallet or your keys or just found a phone on the pavement, these should be instantly reported to the police in an attempt to return them back to the owner.

Conduct certificate:

During your career, you may be required to present a police conduct certificate to your prospective employer, which would include any past criminal offences. You can apply online or else visit the Criminal Records Office in Floriana to collect a copy. 

Licences:
It is the police’s job to issue licences for firearms and fireworks and for private guards and wardens.

Contact
If you need urgent assistance from the police, call the European emergency number 112 and they will assist you in no time. Do use this number for emergencies only, i.e. when you’re experiencing imminent threats to your life and property, when a traffic accident which leaves injuries or fatalities takes place and in the rare circumstances of bomb threats. If it’s not an emergency contact the Police Control room on (+356) 2122 4001-9 where you’ll still get the required assistance. If you’re in doubt whether it’s an urgent matter or not, better call 112 to be safe.

If you’re in possession of some sensitive information regarding a particular crime which needs to be passed on to the police, you are encouraged to dial the free number 119.

The Police Force operates an online system which caters for non urgent and non serious matters and offences through which you can upload a report in a very convenient manner. If, on the other hand, the matter is of a more serious level, you are strongly advised to visit a police station in person. The majority of police stations are open 24/7, except for some stations in quiet villages which rarely have any crime reports so they would be closed, especially during the night.