LES System
Local Enforcement System Agency (LESA)
The Local Enforcement Systems Agency (LESA) is an Executive Agency of the Government of Malta set up by virtue of L.N. 153 of 2015, under the terms of Section 36 of the Public Administration Act, Cap. 497.
The primary function of the Agency is to provide for the enforcement of any law, regulation or bye-law, the enforcement of which has been delegated to regional committees, local councils or to such other local or regional authorities as are designated by the Local Councils Act.
The Agency believes that education is the basis of success of society, thus has implemented various education campaign aimed at different segments of the community. Such ongoing campaigns include Pedestrian Education aimed particularly at the children and Traffic Education for youths. These are held in education institutions, and during cultural activities organised from time to time. Other educational campaigns include ECO education and safety.
The Agency offers other related services which includes Traffic Management Systems, and operates the vehicle collision system within the islands.
“To support and assist the community in enjoying a safer, better and cleaner environment through assistance and education, supported by traffic and environmental law enforcement.”
The Prosecutor
The Prosecutor is a person who is appointed by LESA to prosecute on their behalf against those offenders who have been accused of having committed a contravention.
The Prosecutor prosecutes all the offences that are brought before the Tribunal. The prosecutor prepares each case whilst also ensuring that the necessary evidence correlates to the case. All prosecutions are carried out with due diligence, and anyone summoned to appear before the Tribunal is given a fair hearing.
The Prosecutor may also lodge an appeal before the Court of Magistrates as a Court of Appeal in those instances where the Prosecutor is dissatisfied with the Tribunal judgment.
Enforcement Officer
Before the introduction of Local Enforcement, enforcement fell exclusively within the competence of the Malta Police Force. However, Local Enforcement System saw the introduction of other Enforcement Officers - the Community Officers. This system, saw an increase in the number of Enforcement Officers, thus ensuring that every locality in Malta is constantly being monitored by these Officers.
Tribunals
The Tribunal is an extension of the Maltese Law Courts. It has the functionality to hold the sittings and to consider any charge brought before the Commissioner for Justice in terms of the Commissioners for Justice Act Chapter 291. There are currently five Tribunals distributed across the Maltese islands, each covering a group of localities established by the Local Government Act, Chapter 363.
The Tribunal was set up to ensure that it gives the fundamental right to a fair hearing to each person who has been booked for a contravention. For this reason, the Tribunal has been entrusted with a specialised competence, that of adjudicating in respect of delegated and/or de-penalised contraventions. The cases are scheduled within a relatively short period of time and there are no lengthy proceedings involved, in fact the cases are dealt with summarily.
Commissioners for Justice
The role of the Commissioner for Justice is to examine and decide the cases brought before him/her with impartiality and equity according to law. The Commissioner for Justice hears statements and studies evidence provided by both the offender and the prosecutor. The Commissioner for Justice also hears any witness which might be provided by any party. Once all the statements and evidence are brought forward, the Commissioner for Justice proceeds with handing down the judgement, which eventually is recorded onto the system by the Tribunal Registrar.
The Tribunal Registrar
The duties of the Tribunal Registrar are similar to those pertaining to the Registrar of the Civil Courts and Tribunals and/or under the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedures. The Registrar has the direction of, and is responsible for, the registry entrusted to him/her. The Registrar executes his/her legal duties in terms of law and only acts under the directions provided by the Commissioners for Justice Act. It is the responsibility of the Registrar to ensure any presented documents are annexed to the case and ensures also that any decision taken is recorded onto the system.