Introducing community policing in Malta : the case study in Mellieħa

Abstract

Police forces worldwide use different methods to fulfil their duties. These methods vary from one police force to another and every police department utilises them in ways that accommodate existing circumstances. The main aim of this research is to study a particular technique – community policing, which has been recently adopted by the Malta Police Force in line with a renovated mission statement that intends to transform the police corps into a modern one. This research delves into how community policing is practically applied in a particular locality – Mellieħa, by assessing viewpoints of different internal and external stakeholders. Community policing has replaced traditional methods in the locality were this research was done to make evaluations and establish its success potential as an effective policing philosophy. Two research instruments were applied. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to various individuals residing in Mellieħa and two semi-structured interviews were held, one with the community policing team leader and the other with the locality’s mayor. These assisted the researcher in obtaining a complete assessment of community policing from various stakeholders. From this research it emerged that community policing is an effective policing strategy and is successfully contributing towards accomplishing the Maltese police corps roles and responsibilities as expressed by participants themselves. The dissertation closes with recommendations for improvement, also through personal experiences from the author as an internal researcher within the police force. It suggests structural and operational changes to community policing, that intend to further improve the concept for future endeavours.