Malta arrests half of its traffic police

More than half of Malta’s traffic police have been arrested, authorities have said.

They have all been detained on suspicion of committing fraud by claiming overtime that they had not worked, according to officials.

Officers have drawn up emergency plans to ensure they have enough police to put on the streets following the clampdown.

Motorists have said there were noticeably fewer police directing traffic on Tuesday, despite sources saying officers who used to work in the traffic unit have been asked to return to fill the shortage.

Around 30 members of Malta’s traffic police force — from a total of about 50 — have been accused of fraudulently filing for hundreds of hours of overtime over at least a three-year period, according to police. _Agencies

Dhaka/AKA