Italian Police Officers Join Maltese Patrols In Tourist Hotspots This Summer
A group of Italian police officers have officially joined Maltese counterparts on joint patrols across key tourist hotspots, following a landmark cooperation agreement between the two countries.
The initiative, launched after a bilateral agreement was signed in December 2024, aims to strengthen public safety in areas popular with tourists, particularly Italian-speaking visitors, through coordinated patrols, shared knowledge, and improved international collaboration.
The joint effort will see eight Polizia di Stato officers deployed in Malta this summer. The team is split into two groups: the first already on patrol from 21st July to 3rd August and the second arriving from 4th to 17th August.
All officers will be in uniform but unarmed, and they will hold no executive powers. Their primary focus will be on preventative patrols, public order support, and helping Italian nationals visiting Malta. Patrols will primarily take place in Valletta and St Julian’s, in collaboration with District Police and Community Policing units.
The officers were selected for their experience in multicultural, tourist-heavy environments, and bring with them strong operational and language skills to help support communication on the ground. They will also act as a bridge between Italian tourists and Maltese authorities, including consular and diplomatic representatives.
Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri welcomed the initiative, saying, “Just as we had Maltese police officers serving abroad in recent weeks, we now have Italian officers here in Malta. While we learn from each other, executive responsibility always remains with the Malta Police Force. We will continue to strengthen training and the exchange of experiences.”
The patrols are being coordinated by Italy’s International Police Cooperation Service (SCIP), in collaboration with the Office of the Security Expert at the Italian Embassy in Malta.
This is the first time such a joint patrol programme is being trialled in Malta, and authorities are already exploring the possibility of repeating the initiative in future summer seasons.
The operation is part of the Malta Police Force’s wider 2020–2025 Transformation Strategy, which focuses on international collaboration, community policing, and modernising approaches to public safety.
Meanwhile, Maltese police officers are also contributing abroad, with recent joint patrols carried out in France, part of the force’s ongoing commitment to international cooperation and public safety across borders.
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