Paceville security: back-up available in three minutes

Paceville security has been beefed up with police from the Rapid Intervention Unit available on standby to provide assistance within three minutes, according to the Home Affairs Ministry. A number of officers from the newly-formed unit have been assigned to Malta’s clubbing district while other units are available outside Paceville on standby, the ministry’s spokeswoman told Times of Malta. The unit is a merging of the Special Assignment Group and the Mobile Squad which was formally announced in June. Its job is to be on continuous patrol to prevent crime but is also armed and trained for riot control among other eventualities. Earlier this month, Times of Malta reported that extra police officers would be deployed to Paceville following a recent security warning to American visitors from the US State Department over “racially motivated violence” and “poor crowd control”. Among the measures taken, there has been an increase in the number of onsite officers on weekends and Wednesdays through a system of overtime for police officers coming from various districts. Drug squad officers are also available on site. The spokeswoman also said checks were made to ensure adequate lighting...