Community Support Officers Regulations, 2024

L.N. 281 of 2024

POLICE ACT

(CAP. 164)

Duties and Conditions of Appointment of Police Patrol and

Community Support Officers Regulations, 2024

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by articles 8(2), 82(2)

and 101 of the Police Act, the Minister responsible for the Police has

made the following regulations

The title of these regulations is the Duties and Conditions

of Appointment of Police Patrol and Community Support Officers

Regulations, 2024.

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires

"Act" means the Police Act;

"Commissioner" shall have the same meaning assigned to it

in article 6(1) of the Act;

"Force" means the Malta Police Force.

(1) There shall be Police Patrol and Community Support

Officers appointed by the Commissioner to assist regular police

officers in providing effective service within the community.

(2) Police Patrol and Community Support Officers shall be

eligible to become members of the Force once they satisfy the

eligibility criteria within a period of five (5) years from their

appointment

Provided that for the purpose of this regulation and the

Fourth Schedule to the Act, a maximum period of five (5) years served

as a Police Patrol and Community Support Officer shall be reckoned as

service in the Force, provided that the said officer becomes a member

of the Force subject to the conditions listed in the Fourth Schedule to

the Act.

(3) Police Patrol and Community Support Officers shall serve

for a period of one (1) year probation.

Police Patrol and Community Support Officers shall assist

Police Officers in the following duties

(a) providing a reassuring presence to the public and

fostering stronger community relationships;

(b) improving the quality of life for residents and

enhancing area safety by proactively addressing crime and anti-

social behaviour;

(c)

identifying and assisting individuals vulnerable to

crime;

(d) acting as a visible deterrent to crime and anti-social

behaviour;

(e) gathering information and intelligence to support law

enforcement and community objectives;

(f) responding to incidents of minor offences and

defusing conflicts; and

(g) carrying out any other duties as ordered by the

Commissioner.

Police Patrol and Community Support Officers shall not be Exclusion of

empowered to exercise such executive powers as are vested by law in Police

Executive

members of the Force in terms of the Criminal Code and any other law. powers.

(1) Police Patrol and Community Support Officers shall Discipline.

where applicable be subject to the laws, regulations and standard

operating procedures applicable to police officers.

(2) The provisions of Title IV of the Act shall also apply to

Police Patrol and Community Support Officers.

Police Patrol and Community Support Officers shall, while Uniform.

on duty and only during such time, wear such distinguishable uniforms

distinct from the uniforms worn by Police Officers and, or distinctive

badges or marks, as the Commissioner may determine.

Police Patrol and Community Support Officers shall be Professional

secrecy.

bound by the provisions of the Professional Secrecy Act.

In the proviso to regulation 2(2) of the Fourth Schedule to Consequential

the Act, the words "the Act." shall be substituted by the words "the amendment.

Act:" and immediately after there shall be added the following new

"Provided further that the period served as a Police

Patrol and Community Support Officer for a period not

exceeding five (5) years shall be considered as service with the

Force once the officer joins the Force as a regular police officer,

and shall have the years of service carried out as Police Patrol and

Community Support Officer counted on a ratio of 1:0.5 to be

considered on a notional basis for the purpose of salary scale and

for the purpose of joining the Force as a sworn officer.".

€0.27