https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/346 Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:26:27 GMT 2026-06-22T19:26:27Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146862 Title: Stalking and harassment : an analysis of the impact of this crime on tertiary educators in Malta Abstract: Despite increasing awareness of the emotional and professional risks posed to educators by stalking and harassment, local studies within tertiary education remain limited. This study explores how tertiary-level educators in Malta experience, interpret, and respond to such behaviours. The aim is to identify the relational, institutional, and socio-cultural factors that shape vulnerability and influence reporting. Using a qualitative design, the study employed semi-structured interviews and a focus group involving individuals with strong professional links to Maltese tertiary education, and to issues surrounding stalking and harassment. The resulting data were analysed thematically. The findings reveal that unwanted behaviours emerge across both physical and digital spaces, often facilitated by blurred boundaries, heightened expectations, and Malta’s small-island dynamics. Stalking and harassment were shown to have significant emotional, psychological, and professional impacts, contributing to anxiety, avoidance behaviours, and long-term shifts in educators’ confidence and sense of safety. The study also identifies substantial barriers to reporting, including fear of retaliation, reputational concerns, and perceived institutional inconsistency. Drawing on these insights, the dissertation proposes a set of evidence-based recommendations aimed at strengthening safeguarding frameworks, enhancing reporting structures, and fostering supportive institutional cultures. The study offers important new empirical insights into an underexplored area in Malta, and underscores the importance of placing educators’ wellbeing at the centre of institutional responsibility. Description: M.A. (Crim.)(Melit.) Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146862 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146582 Title: From imprisonment to reintegration : an analysis of Malta's parole system Authors: Vella, Mary Grace Abstract: This article presents an analysis of Malta’s parole system, established through the Restorative Justice Act (2012) as a mechanism for the conditional, pre-expiration release of convicted offenders from incarceration. Rooted in the historical concept of parole d’honneur, parole in its current form constitutes a formal, legally enforceable contract wherein an offender’s early release is contingent upon their strict adherence to stipulated licence conditions. This post-custodial phase mandates community supervision aimed at sustaining the individual’s rehabilitation and reintegration. Parole acts as a crucial transitional mechanism, bridging the gap between total deprivation of liberty and unconditional freedom. Unlike remission, which provides a largely unsupervised and automatic reduction of the custodial sentence (generally at two-thirds of the term), parole is a more discretionary yet advantageous measure requiring the inmate to demonstrate a more proactive engagement to reform and desistance. The system aligns with evolving penal philosophies by extending beyond the purely retributive and incapacitative functions of imprisonment to embrace principles of rehabilitation and restorative justice. The research methodology employs a longitudinal analysis of the Annual Reports of the Malta Parole Board to analyse key operational metrics concerning parole uptake, including the balance between licence grants and refusals, duration of parole licences, offender and offense characteristics, and the standard conditions appended to parole licenses. Furthermore, the study quantifies the system’s effectiveness through its success, suspension, and revocation rates. While recognizing parole’s efficacy in lowering the probability of recidivism through supervised release, the analysis also addresses significant systemic challenges. The paper concludes with evidence-based recommendations for potential reforms and improvements in operational praxis to optimize the system’s impact on public protection and offender reintegration. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/146582 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145801 Title: Experts' perspectives on youth radicalisation in Malta Abstract: This research explores the factors contributing to youth radicalisation in Malta, focusing on the social, psychological, and environmental influences that shape adolescent vulnerability to extremist ideologies. It seeks to understand why some youths may be attracted to radical narratives, particularly within a local context that has received limited scholarly attention. Using a qualitative design, the study draws on expert interviews with nine professionals from education, criminology, psychology, law enforcement and policymaking. Thematic analysis was employed to examine how radicalisation is understood, which push and pull factors are perceived as most influential and how experts believe vulnerable youths can be supported. As part of this research process, a conceptual mind map was developed to visually represent the core dynamics influencing radicalisation across different stages of youth development. Findings indicate that Islamist and Far-right ideologies emerged as primary concerns among professionals, alongside rising concerns about misogyny, homophobia, and other emerging manifestations of intolerance and extremist sentiment. Participants also emphasised the influence of online content, perceived identity-based grievances, and social alienation as contributing factors. Prevention was viewed as most effective when grounded in education, early intervention, and stronger inter-agency collaboration across institutions. The research suggests that radicalisation in Malta is shaped by both individual vulnerabilities and broader systematic pressures. It concludes that addressing these challenges requires a more coordinated, youth-focused approach that reflects the specific realities of the local context. These findings have important implications for enhancing early intervention through crime prevention strategies, strengthening professional training, and informing more effective policies aimed at reducing the risk of youth radicalisation. Description: M.A. (Crim.)(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145801 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145800 Title: Malta Police Force collaborative investigations into organised crime : challenges & solutions Abstract: This research aimed to examine the collaborative investigations conducted by the Malta Police Force (MPF) against organised crime (OC) locally, doing so by assessing the level of collaborative investigations and investigative challenges faced by the MPF in conducting collaborative investigations against OC and to provide the solutions for the challenges in collaboratively investigating OC locally. The research methodology was qualitative. Interviewing 10 participants from 5 different stakeholders. The primary data was analysed through thematic analysis from which three main themes emerged. The main themes were “It takes a Network to Defeat a Network”, “The Power of the Law” and “Resources”. With these themes providing a comprehensive understanding of interunit, interagency and international collaboration in OC investigations. Subsequently, identifying challenges alongside their solutions related to collaborative OC investigations. The main findings included that Malta is capable of conducting collaborative investigations against OC but which are inhibited by legal inadequacies, resources limitations, and social challenges such as ego, trust and competition. With their solutions including legal amendments, strategic resource management, soft skill training, adoption of operational security measures amongst other solutions. Recommendations are also provided for future academic research, including more in depth research regarding this research’s factors. With further research including supplementary quantitative research and comparative qualitative research. Moreover, a vast list of policy recommendations to address the identified challenges is provided. With such policy recommendations including the setting up of a national strategy, a national OC coordinator, legal amendments for Maltese legal procedures in investigatory and protectional aspects of OC cases, as well as investment in human and physical resources for all stakeholders. Overall, this research comprehensively examined collaborative investigations against OC locally. Establishing positive factors of local OC investigations but also the areas where they can be improved, by addressing the challenges of OC investigations experienced locally. Description: M.A. (Crim.)(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145800 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z