Wales pays tribute to Maltese top cop

Tributes have been paid to a Maltese former senior detective who helped to crack some of the most high profile cases in South West Wales.

15 April 2012, 12:00am
by Karl Stagno-Navarra

1 min read

Cardiff's Central Police Station, where Peter Azzopardi worked for most of his life

57 year-old Peter Azzopardi died suddenly in Malta while on holiday with his family for Easter. He remains known for having led the way in developing drugs misuse and child protection policing.

South Wales Police Chief Superintendent Mark Mathias, the head of policing in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, said everyone was saddened at the news of his death.

He said: "If you were ever the victim of a crime and you wanted a detective to investigate it, then you would want Peter- he was one of the most tenacious detectives I have known in supporting victims and seeking justice.

"In addition to messages of sympathy from colleagues who are shocked by his death, I have had messages from partner agencies in the substance misuse and justice arenas, as well as from members of the public - including one from a person who was arrested at the instigation of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot until last summer when he retired as the force tried to cut costs following a reduction in its budgets from the UK Government."

Peter Azzopardi's coffin reached Wales from Malta this evening.

He is survived by his wife Ann, daughter Claire and son Paul, a current South Wales Police staff member who is due to follow in his father's footsteps later this year and join the force.

Azzopardi served with the Merchant Navy before joining South Wales Police in 1986.

He moved to CID and rose through the ranks to become detective chief inspector, and was head of public protection in Swansea for 20 years.