Crime in Malta

 

How Safe is It in Malta?

A Visitor Wants to Know

 

I got this email from Tyg. Would be interested in your thoughts:

Good Evening from the States,

Given your time in Malta, how do you compare crime to that in the U.S.? The question comes in response to recent news items about bank robberies, Russian spies vacationing in Buggiba and auto arsons. Your comments, please.

A recent visitor to Malta

Comments

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi Dave--glad you're a fan of Malta. I have to agree that after being here almost two years that the biggest danger we face are the drivers in the streets of Malta--Ilene

[Dave]

I disagree that Valletta is unsafe in some areas - I've always felt safe in Valletta walking around the streets at night (I live in Valletta) even in some of the 'dodgier' areas - it's quiet and night and if something did happen if you make a lot of noise people will poke their heads out of their windows to see what is going on.

I agree that the drivers are the biggest danger. Everyone, I mean EVERYONE drinks and drives here and it is a part of the culture of Malta. Out of 95 breath tests given last year or the year before (can't remember which year) 65 people were caught drink driving and the other 30 refused to give a breath test (which you can legally do here).

Also don't trust pedestrian crossings - they are a) hard to see for drivers and b) drivers don't stop regardless.

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi Matt--thanks for your excellent comments and insights into the crime in Malta and Europe. I have to say that once a week several students have things stolen--wallets, mobile phones--while they're in school. So I do believe that a lot of this kind of crime is committed by fellow foreign students--Ilene

[Matt Tomich]

You have to remember that you're talking about a country of 400,000 - the size of a small to medium city in the U.S.

That said, crime is low in Europe in general compared to every other continent. In general, pickpocketing is much higher than in the U.S. and violent crime is much lower. Remember that crime reports don't always reflect all crime. (Rapes tend to be under-reported, arsons can be over-reported, etc.)

Of course, like everywhere, it's changing. People used to not lock their doors in Greece and Malta. Now people on ground floors in Malta complain about break-ins, bikes disappear, etc. There are places in Malta you should be careful going to at night in Valetta and in the Three Cities areas.

If you want nearly crime free, try Lichtenstein. Well, except for white collar crime. ;)

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi Dee--I truly think the greatest danger to all people here are the drivers. Seriously, there are many accidents involving pedestrians. Just a few days ago, a young Russian woman was seriously injured when she was hit by a car--and many people afterward blamed her for being in the CROSSWALK at the wrong time--Ilene

[dee owen]

Great to see those stats. That's one of the many reasons we want to move to Malta and tell everyone that its pretty safe there. So thanks!

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Alison, thanks a lot for the stats; they make me feel better. Of course, I come from the US where crime of all kinds--especially violent types--are much more prevalent than in Malta--Ilene

[Alison]

Well, lets start with the biggest crime of all. Murder. There was a year when we had no murders at all (within the past 10 years). Crime in Malta is rarely random. As in, it's rare that someone just murders someone just for the fun of it. It's usuall pre meditated & the assailant and the victim know each other and had some altrecation.

As for theft, we get mostly car theft (as in breaking into a car and stealing not taking the actual car). One of the benefits of such a small island is that a car thief does not have much place to hide or run away.

Pick pockets have been on the rise since more foreigners started coming to the island (not trying to say Maltese do not pic pocket but the majority have been non-Maltese people). Break ins and burglaries happen yes but not terribly often.

Here is some more information

http://malta.cc/maltese-society/malta-crime-rate-statistics/

So yes.... safe to say (pun intended hehe) that Malta is a relatively safe country. =)