Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà was right when, in his introduction to the Malta Police Transformation Strategy 2020-2025, he observed that Malta remains one of the safest places in the world. In its annual crime review for 2021, CrimeMalta Observatory also noted that the island is a “very safe place”, ranking well below the EU28’s average for all serious crimes covering assault, burglary, drugs, homicide, rape, robbery, sexual assault and sexual offences. Malta deserves to, and must remain, a very safe place both for its inhabitants and visitors. Therefore, the justified widespread concern when instances such as the recent disturbances in Paceville and Ħamrun give rise to questions on whether the situation in certain hotspots is under control or risks getting out of hand. Two men had to be treated in hospital for stab and head injuries after a fight involving up to 25 people not far from the Ħamrun police station in mid-August. Barely three weeks later, two men were arrested after a fight in which a knife was used. It will be a mistake if we think that it is just unruly ‘foreigners’ who are causing the trouble. Speak to the police and those on the front line of entertainment...