Watch: 'When we stop drivers using phones, we face abuse' - police

A police union is calling for the introduction of body and dashboard cameras in a bid to help enforcement efforts against traffic violations and deter abusive behaviour against officers on patrol. Inspector Sandro Camilleri, president of the Police Officers Union, made this appeal in the wake of the recent debate stoked by footage published online by the Times of Malta, which showed scores of motorists in Msida acting with impunity. The 30-minute exercise exposed numerous cases of drivers blatantly flouting the law by using their mobile phones, putting themselves and others at risk. Such offences are still being committed despite official data showing that each month an average 2,000 motorists are being fined €100 for using their mobile phone while driving. In his reaction the POU president rejected claims that officers were turning a blind eye to such abuses. “More often than not we are being criticised by motorists for adopting a merciless attitude and that we are turning Malta into a police state, when in reality officers are increasingly facing verbal and physical abuse for doing their job,” he said. Mr Spiteri pointed out that in some cases offenders did not limit...