Reforming with resolve : 5 years to fast-track a two-century old Malta Police Force - a 2024 status review

Abstract

This chapter presents a 2024 status review of the Malta Police Force (MPF) mid-way through its 2020–2025 Transformation Strategy. Established in 1814, the MPF is one of Europe's oldest police entities and has recently undergone extensive modernization to transition from a reactive, culture-dominant structure into a proactive, data-driven, and community-centric service. The study highlights the key drivers of change, including strategic outcomes, administrative restructuring, technological adoption (such as body-worn cameras), enhanced internal accountability, anti-corruption policies, and officer well-being initiatives. Mid-term evaluations indicate a significant rise in public trust, increasing from 49% in 2020 to 70%, alongside a noticeable reduction in per capita crime rates, reaching a 25-year low.