Overview of Courses

Pre-Tertiary Certificate in Basic Training For Police Constables (MQF 4 – 43 ECTS)

This course is strictly targeted towards applicants who answer a call for applications for the Post of Police Constable in the Malta Police Force within the Ministry for Home Affairs, National Security and Law Enforcement and will be held at the Academy for Disciplined Forces, Imqabba Road, Siggiewi, SGW 2606, Malta. This full-time course is delivered on a five-day week time schedule, from Monday to Friday (excluding holidays), 8 hours per day, for six consecutive months.

More information regarding the call for applications can be acquired through:

https://pulizija.gov.mt/en/police-force/police-sections/Pages/Human-Resources.aspx

The objective of this course is to provide prospective police constables with a basic training programme to make them qualify for the post in the Malta Police Force. This course will define and deliver the knowledge, skills and competences required by constables to be able to fulfil their roles and responsibilties which their everyday work demands. The 10 Modules are compulsory.

Course participants must be Maltese citizens who can communicate in both Maltese and English, who are between the ages of 18 and 39 and who want to follow a career path in the Malta Police Force.  They must be of conduct which is appropriate to the post applied for and they also must be in possession of:

Either a pass (at least at Grade 5 or C or a comparable level) at MQF Level 3 in four (4) subjects which must include Maltese and English Language,

Or a Level 3 VET qualification or a Secondary School Certificate and Profiling qualification at MQF Level 3 in Maltese, English Language and any other two subjects as separate study units within the course pursued.

Applicants in possession of an MCAST MQF Level 3 Diploma, or an MCAST-BTEC First Diploma, or an MCAST-BTEC Diploma or a City and Guilds Level 2 Certificate will be considered if it is in a subject related to police work. Qualifications at a level higher than that specified will be accepted for eligibility purposes, provided they meet any specified subject requirements.

Public Officers holding a grade in a particular stream, and who were granted Officer in Scale status by virtue of a Grievances Unit decision in the same scale as that of a higher grade in that stream, are eligible to apply for grades open to officers holding such higher grade within the stream that carries the same scale as that of the Officer in Scale status.

Participants must be medically, physically, and mentally fit and of a specified minimum height, which differs by gender.

After applying through a call for applications issued by the Malta Police Force and being successful in a preliminary medical test followed by a physical efficiency test, a selective interview and a full medical test, the participants embark on this traineeship course and are officially termed Trainee Police Constables. Traineeship is 100% and a pass mark is 50% for each examinable subject. Those who fail will not be appointed Constables and will have their traineeship terminated. However, one other chance of a resit in failing subjects examination/s might be given.

Knowledge

By the end of this course, the recuits will learn:​

1. About the Power, Duties and Responsibilities of the Police;
   
2. About the Malta Police Force Code of Ethics and the European Code of Police Ethics;
3. About the empowering function of Fundamental Rights in a democratic society, all factors related to these Rights, the core principles of the role of the police within this context and their own Rights as police officers;
4. The meaning of the Oath of Office and the Moral and Ethical Values which are expected of police constables;
5. About the negative effect of Discriminatory Ethnic Profiling on
6. minority groups and on effective policing;
7. To apply the utmost importance to GHQ Circulars;
8. About the different current tactics and dynamics of several Contemporary Crimes which present harsh challenges to law enforcement.
9. How to use Radio Communication effectively;

The recruits will also become aware of:

1. ​The Principles of Equality and Non-Descrimination;
2. The legal frameworks that promote and protect Fundamental Rights and why and when an individual’s Right to Liberty can be legally restricted;
3. The benefit and necessity of Professional Ethics and Values as a basis for the role and mission of the police officer in a changing society and the relation between this society’s expectations of the police and the police’s responsibility to protect Civil Rights;
4. Elements of Criminal Law, with Principles, Presumptions and Practices and the related Subsidiary Legislation.

Skills

By the end of this course, the recuits will be able to:

1. Identify the Fundamental Rights related to police work and acknowledge that these Rights are the foundation of all police work and not a limitation to it;
2. Respect the Fundamental Rights of all persons during police activities and become prompt and precise in informing all individuals of these Rights in all situations;
3. Operate several Security and Safety core skills that need to be balanced with respect to Fundamental Rights of the individual;
4. Demonstrate a high level of Physical Fitness and know how to maintain this level;
5. Handle and use their weapon safely and precisely due to practical sessions of Safe Weapon Handling;
6. Use Conducted Electrical Weapons (Taser) and Pepper Spray;
7. Control and Restrain criminals and suspects and carry out organized Searches;
8. Perform well during Police Vehicle Operation, Patrolling and Community policing;
9. Execute Basic First Aid and Basic Fire Fighting techniques;
10. Identify local crimes which might have global consequences and know their way about cooperating with National, EU and International Partners;
11. Communicate effectively with the public in general and with their fellow officers during their daily duties and manage to establish and maintain effective contacts;
12. Interview witnesses and take basic statements when necessary;
13. Understand basic Investigation requirements and how to establish relevant facts in connection to a case.

Competences:

By the end of this course, recruits will be able to:

1. Identify and perform necessary actions to ensure the Safety and Security of persons or property within the framework of Fundamental Rights and also have the confidence to report any breaches of fundamental rights through the appropriate channel;
2. Apply the meaning of the Oath of Office and predict ethical risks during the course of daily police work;
3. Interpret activity as being representative of Unethical Behaviour and know how to apply appropriate measures to resist the possible temptation to engage in such behaviour;
4. Demonstrate the capacity to take action against Unethical Behaviour and Corruption, and to choose the appropriate channels to report both;
5. Analyse different views related to the individual and society and also to recognise the Destructive Effect of Corrupt Behaviour and the very slippery slope leading to corruption;
6. Act with confidence when dealing with Traffic Regulations, Contraventions and giving evidence during Court procedures;
7. Gather, process and manage Information from Police Systems;
8. Act responsibly regarding Data Protection of information, which is entrusted to them;
9. Employ basic Report Writing techniques;
10. Manage and Protect a Crime Scene against contamination and understand the important value of forensics;
11. Give full Victim Support and protection from further damage to victims of crime;
12. View themselves as community leaders as well as followers through the basic understanding of Supervision and Leadership training received during the course;
13. Demonstrate ownership of their Patrol Duties, other daily activities and execute informed and effective decisions through police management and engagement techniques.