Four More Years: Angelo Gafa Renewed As Police Commissioner, Criticised By Many
Angelo Gafà will retain his position as Police Commissioner for another term through the approval of the Public Service Commission. This decision sparked criticism from certain stakeholders.
Gafà’s contract renewal was confirmed in a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Security and Employment, which also recommended the additional four years.
This decision came after the ministry acknowledged the numerous projects that the police corps launched under Gafà’s supervision that improved both the conditions of the police officers and security on a national scale, with the ministry directly referencing the introduction of community police among others.
This led to a more positive public opinion of the police corps, according to officials.
Albeit this decision was based on positive outcomes of Gafà’s work, some took to social media to express their distrust in the police commissioner. Some of the most notable being Opposition Leader Bernard Grech.
Grech implied that Gafà has allegiances with the Labour Party which is obstructing justice from being served correctly. He continued by saying that this decision was not approved by the Nationalist Party and that he will continue fighting to have a police commissioner that is approved by two-thirds of parliament, in order to have impartial justice.
Another notable figure who does not approve of this renewal is Repubblika’s honorary president, Robert Aquilina.
Repubblika is a big critic of Gafà. Aquilina took to Facebook to post a few things that a number of police officers allegedly wanted the public to know, mainly that Gafà does not represent the values of the police force.
Continuing, he alleged that this particular group of police officers thinks of Gafà’s contract renewal as insulting; “most of the police force doesn’t trust the police commissioner, those who do trust him are within his inner circle”.
Aquilina claims that police officers have becoming demoralised and demotivated due to Gafà’s leadership style, which he says has allowed people with political or financial power to be above the law and that Gafà’s friendships with prominent business people is scandalous.
In view of all this, these police officers have started investigating and documenting Gafà’s abuse of power, Aquilina concluded.
What do you think of Gafà serving for another term as police commissioner?