Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/984659
16 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 MAY 2018 INTERVIEW If nothing else, the horrifying injuries suffered by PC Simon Schembri last Tuesday serve as graphic testimony to the risks involved in policing. This raises a question many prospective policemen must surely be asking themselves... are the salaries and working conditions of the Police Force commensurate with such extreme risk to life and limb? I think we have to take a broader view than just sal- ary and working conditions. The majority of people who decide to join the Corps, do so because they love the work of the police. It is a passion ['amur'] in itself. They would know that the job is pegged to Civil Service salary scales: on top of that, one can talk about promotions, allowances, and various opportunities that may arise. For instance, one thing we introduced recently was that 'fixed point' officers – e.g., sentry duty outside an Embas- sy – are not selected from po- licemen who are supposed to be on duty that day. Instead, it is now an opportunity for over- time, so they can make more money. If it's money we're talk- ing about... Well, money is part of it, but there are also conditions such as hours of work... issues of insurance, compensation to family in case of loss of life, etc... ... yes, in fact that is why we have to take a broader view. First of all, we are in the pro- cess of negotiating a new col- lective agreement. Negotia- tions are now at an advanced stage, and hopefully it will be concluded soon. I also believe we need to look at the comfort angle: for instance, new uni- forms that are better suited, more comfortable and less dangerous to the policemen on duty. There will still be the 'official' uniform; but we are looking into new uniforms for the working policemen in the street. On top of that, we are also taking health and safety into consideration. So even certain work practices that have been retained until now, may soon be changed. To give you a small example: I am a car enthusiast – as I always say – and sometimes, it can be more important that the tyres are in perfect condition, than the en- gine. Especially if you're going to drive at very high speeds. [So when it comes to equip- ment], we're not going to issue a tender and just settle for the cheapest offer. The cheapest tyre will not offer the best pos- sible safety features. [...] Apart from that, we are looking at various other safety issues: crash helmets, and so on... so as to provide a more thorough health and safety upgrade. On the subject of work hours: here, there have been discussions with the unions, and adjust- ments were made, where pos- sible, to the number of hours a policeman is expected to work. [...] We also know there are certain ranks which demand longer hours of work. We are looking to evaluate this factor, even in the ongoing collective agreement negotiations... in practice, some sectors work 46 hours a week, while others work 40 hours. We want to put an end to this discrepancy, and ensure that all policemen are properly compensated for work over and above the norm – either through allowances, or overtime rates – so that the income they take home to their families is commensurate to the hours worked. In this instance there was serious, permanent disability involved. Your ministry issued a statement saying that 'ad- equate work' will be offered to the victim within the Police Force. First of all: can you elab- orate on that? There will be an evaluation, and [PC Schembri] will be properly compensated for what happened to him... just as oth- ers have been compensated in the past, depending on the cir- cumstances. In this case, how- ever, one other thing we will be doing – I already discussed this with the Police Commis- sioner, immediately after the incident – is that, if he decides to remain in the service, we guarantee that he will be able to do so. He is an exemplary and highly respected member of the Corps, and still has a lot to contribute. As such, I've al- ready received an email from the Police Academy, with an offer [of a teaching position]. Other entities have also come forward: the Victim Support Group, counselling groups, and the [Police] Chaplain, who is assisting the family... Fair enough, but these all seem to be voluntary, spontaneous, one-off offers which – while commendable, in themselves – do not suggest an active, permanent policy in place. Is there any standard procedure when it comes to compensating police officers injured in the line of duty? Of course. The examples I mentioned were not all 'spon- taneous': the Victim Support Group is there for all victims, not just Simon Schembri... even though he is, naturally, a victim. And counselling is something offered to various members of the Corps on a regular basis, for a wide variety of reasons. It is in the nature of the job to be confronted with unpleasant, macabre and pos- sibly traumatic realities. Some- times policemen may need counselling to get over a trau- ma they may have experienced on a crime scene, or some oth- er aspect of their job. And the Chaplain is always very close to the Police: not just in mat- ters of religion, but even when it comes to personal or fam- ily issues. I can say that, last Tuesday, I visited Schembri in hospital and stayed there until around 11, when they took him up to the operating theatre. The Chaplain not only stayed there later, but remained with the family... just yesterday, I visited the ITU and he was already there, before me. All throughout he has been there, providing psychological and moral support to the family. I feel it has to be said that he did this, not just because of the particular circumstances... but it is his nature to act that way, in all circumstances. Meanwhile, questions have also been raised about whether there are specific insurance policies with regard to cases like this. Are the police adequately insured against injuries acquired in the line of duty? As government, we always cover all employees within the public service: from the high- est level, to the lowest. From that angle, there is a level of in- surance automatically guaran- teed by government. To give a general example: government cars are not insured. But gov- ernment makes good for any damage to third parties, or any claim for compensation. In all cases: this is not just about the police. Government, in such cases, enters as a guarantor, from A to Z. [...] For instance, in cases where somebody sues [Mater Dei] hospital, because, according to the patient, the treatment was inadequate, or there was negligence, mal- practice, etc. Often, they will sue the doctor, nurse, Chief Government Medical Officer, Tuesday's shocking incident, which left a police constable permanently disabled and fighting for his life, has sparked national outrage. Home Affairs minister MICHAEL FARRUGIA outlines plans to boost the Force's health and safety standards, while urging a culture of greater respect towards the blue uniform An erosion of respect for authority Raphael Vassallo The police are on the front line. It is also unfortunate that they have been portrayed in a negative light... and this has made them more vulnerable rvassallo@mediatoday.com.mt culture of greater respect towards the blue uniform