Inspector Faces Scrutiny After Posting Photos Of Men being Detained In Marsa

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The Malta Police Force is considering further action against Inspector Matthew Attard after a Facebook post showing men being arrested and questioned in Marsa sparked a human rights complaint.According to Times of Malta, the post, published on Tuesday morning, featured photos of police officers carrying out enforcement operations, with the faces of several individuals clearly visible.Lawyer Neil Falzon, writing on behalf of human rights NGO Aditus, described the post as “dehumanising” and argued that publishing identifiable images of the men breached their privacy and undermined the principle of presumption of innocence.Falzon also warned that the lack of context surrounding the images risked reinforcing harmful stereotypes about already marginalised communities.In response, the Malta Police Force said the post was intended to highlight ongoing police work in Marsa but acknowledged concerns regarding privacy and dignity.Police confirmed the matter would be addressed with the officer concerned and that further action would be considered in line with internal procedures.The force also said one image showing a handcuffed individual was removed, while other photos were edited to blur faces. At the time of writing, the original images showing identifiable individuals were no longer visible on the post.Police rejected claims that the post was intended to fuel hatred towards migrants, noting that official communications avoid mentioning nationalities to prevent racist or discriminatory reactions.Do you agree with the complaint filed against the inspector?•