Government 'unhappy' with police chief's style

The Police Commissioner is being earmarked for a new posting to make way for a new police commissioner, reliable government sources have told MaltaToday.

Rumours of an impending resignation had already been denied by Zammit, 52, appointed to replace John Rizzo after Labour’s election in 2013.

The Police Commissioner was seen entering Auberge de Castille on Monday morning but MaltaToday has since established that the meeting at Castille was unrelated.

But well-placed sources have told MaltaToday that Zammit “disappoints government by dragging his feet on a number of issues” – amongst them with open cases that require investigation and closure.

More recently, a decision not to press charges against a Zejtun man who assaulted police officers in a police station, saw the home affairs launch an ‘inter-ministerial’ inquiry into the matter. Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia said he was taking the matter “very seriously”, in a statement.

Even Opposition MPs know that Zammit is not enjoying the necessary confidence his role requires from the Labour administration.

In 2013, his predecessor John Rizzo was moved out and appointed head of the Civil Protection Department. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was said to have wanted new blood and a new face to manage the police force, but the level of mistrust between the new administration and Rizzo was an open secret.

Attempts to woo an insider from the force as a replacement failed, when the chosen candidate, a senior officer turned the offer.

Instead, Zammit, who served as a police inspector and superintendent for 25 years before pursuing a career as a legal procurator, was appointed from outside the corps.

He was targeted by the Opposition from the very first day, with Simon Busuttil demanding his resignation when he claimed that he was not arraigning the former European commissioner John Dalli on bribery charges related to an OLAF investigation, on “interference” by the prime minister. Busuttil is facing a breach of privilege complaint in the House of Representatives over his claim.

Zammit improved the corps’ media relations, previously strained under the media, with regular crime conferences; and he set up the highly trained Rapid Intervention Unit.

Although he declared that John Dalli, with its strong political overtones, was to face no charges of alleged bribery over the Swedish Match allegations, Zammit has never officially declared the case closed.

“His management, and style of decision-making, have failed to impress. The home affairs ministry especially, are more concerned by the way he takes decisions when it comes to deal with situations, rather than the Opposition’s criticism,” MaltaToday’s source said.

“The Opposition knows Zammit is not politically motivated in his work. They attack him for the sake of attacking him and to undermine the police force.”