Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/394213
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2014 7 News JAMES DEBONO ONLY 8% of Maltese have stud- ied science or technology at a post secondary level, giving Malta, to- gether with the Czech Republic, the lowest rate registered in a sur- vey conducted by Eurobarometer in all EU states. 16% of respondents in all 28 EU states have studied science or tech- nology at college or university. Respondents in Sweden (33%), Latvia (32%), Lithuania (31%) and Estonia (30%) are the most likely to have studied science or technol- ogy at university or college. At the other end of the scale, less than a tenth have studied science in the Czech Republic (8%), Malta (8%) and Slovakia (9%). Job creation is mentioned as the first priority for scientific research by most respondents in 16 Mem- ber States, while health and medi- cal care is the first priority in 10 countries (Belgium, Czech Repub- lic, Estonia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovakia and United Kingdom). Health and medical care is seen as the top priority by 35% of re- spondents in Malta, as well as 28% of those in the UK and 27% in the Czech Republic. On the other side, only 11% of respondents in both Germany and Slovenia regard this area as a top priority for science and technological development. In Denmark and Sweden, the fight against climate change is considered the first priority for science and technological innova- tion. Respondents in Nordic countries, Ireland, Malta and Spain were more optimistic that both science and technological innovation and also people's actions and behav- iour can have a positive impact, whereas relatively few respondents in Austria, Germany, Greece and Italy are optimistic that positive impacts can be achieved through either route. Over half of the respondents in just two countries – Ireland (53%) and Malta (51%) – think that peo- ple's actions and behaviour will have a positive impact on the pro- tection of personal data. In contrast, there were seven countries in which more people anticipate a negative impact than a positive impact. Notable among these are Germany (52% negative vs. 18% positive), Austria (45% vs. 21%), Greece (38% negative vs. 24% positive), and the Netherlands (34% negative vs. 32% positive). As for the impact of the science and technological innovation on the protection of personal data 15 years from now, 52% of Maltese think that it will have a positive impact. Malta is one of 10 countries where at least half of the respond- ents think that technological in- novation will have a positive im- pact in this sector. The proportion of respondents who believe that science and tech- nological innovation will have a positive impact is highest in Ire- land (64%), Lithuania (62%), Den- mark (60%) and Finland (60%). In three Member States more respondents anticipate a negative impact than a positive impact. The states are Germany (45% negative vs. 23% positive), Austria (38% vs. 26%), and Greece (36% vs. 29%). The levels of 'don't know' are high- est in Malta (27%) and Bulgaria (24%). Marsascala community gets mobile Police unit MIRIAM DALLI A mobile police unit was inaugu- rated by Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia in Marsascala, pro- viding residents with a new police station. The unit is equipped with a computerised system and an inner room to serve as a meeting room between police officers and persons filing a report. The setting up of the mobile unit in Triq Qaliet, on Marsascala's sea- front, was deemed as the perfect immediate solution considering the present state of the locality's police station and its inaccessibility to eld- erly persons and others with mobil- ity needs. To increase community policing, the police force will be introduc- ing electric motorbikes in all locali- ties while a mobile police home – a van – will be placed at the heart of Paceville. "Every citizen must enjoy the right to live in a secure place and our goal is to ensure this by focusing on com- munity policing," Mallia said. According to Acting Police Com- missioner Ray Zammit, the old police station was not meeting the needs of the community. Marsascala, he add- ed, was not only a locality which was busy during the summer months but also attracted people during the winter months due to the number of commercial establishments and res- taurants in the area. Mallia said the area has already seen a decrease in crimes – due to increased police presence – but an increase in violence against public officials was also registered. This is shown by research con- ducted by researcher Saviour For- mosa, a consultant to the Home Af- fairs Ministry. Since 2000, the most criminal acts perpetuated in the locality were damages, domestic violence and bodily harm. Between 2011 and 2013, these criminal acts spiralled by a third. But between January and June of this year, there were cases of do- mestic violence and thefts reported although an increase of violence against police officers was noted. The Home Affairs Minister also categorically denied that the Rapid Intervention Unit will be removed and replaced by the SAG. Police inquiries still being 'evaluated' The conclusions of two police inquiries, one about the wrongful prosecution of 27-year-old Darryl Luke Borg and another on former commissioner Peter Paul Zammit will only be published once they are evaluated. Speaking during the inaugura- tion of the mobile police station in Marsascala, Mallia said that the two reports were currently being evalu- ated by the ministry and once the process is over the findings will be published. The first inquiry, compiled by judge Franco Depasquale, was de- livered to the home affairs minister and former Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit in August last year. The inquiry had led to criticism by the Nationalist Party, calling for the resignation of the police com- missioner as well as that of Mallia's chief of staff, Silvio Scerri, for hav- ing allegedly communicated with a former criminal convict – Charles Attard 'iz-Zambi' – in a bid to bring Borg to testify before the board. The second inquiry was con- cluded in July. It was instituted fol- lowing Zammit's decision to drop charges against a man who alleg- edly assaulted four police officers in Zabbar. Man admits stealing laptop, driving under the influence MATTHEW AGIUS A 30-year-old Somali yesterday ad- mitted stealing a laptop and crash- ing into the gate of the Marsa Open Centre while under the influence of alcohol. Inspector Priscilla Caruana told the court that Hamrun resident Abdiwa- hab Ahmed Ali had "consumed a con- siderable amount of alcohol" and that this was proved by a breathalyzer test. Ali immediately admitted stealing a Samsung notebook computer from a residence in Zurrieq. He also admit- ted driving dangerously and violating conditions imposed on him by an- other court. Magistrate Gabriella Vella remand- ed him in custody pending sentencing later this week. Maltese least likely to have studied science at post-secondary level