Police issue six fines after Sliema tourist misconduct video

Police have issued six on-the-spot administrative fines after investigating a video of tourist misconduct at an apartment block in Sliema, Lovin Malta reported in a follow-up published on 20 July 2026. Earlier the same day, Lovin Malta had circulated footage that appeared to show a group of Italian tourists repeatedly spitting from a balcony and throwing objects and toilet paper toward neighbouring properties. After that investigation, police told Lovin Malta that six administrative fines were handed to members of the group.

The Sliema case comes about a week after a separate crackdown in neighbouring Swieqi. Footage there showed bottles being thrown from balconies onto parked cars below. Police fined 12 young tourists a combined €2,000 for public-order and waste-disposal breaches, and issued 17 additional on-the-spot citations across the same weekend's enforcement work. The Malta Tourism Authority inspected the Swieqi block, found eight of its nine apartments operating in breach of their licence conditions, ordered tourists to vacate, and served an Enforcement Notice requiring the entire property to remain closed until it meets legal and regulatory requirements.

Swieqi Deputy Mayor Jordan Galea Pace said unsustainable tourism is taking an increasing toll on residents' quality of life. No comparable licensing inspection of the Sliema property has been reported. Police stressed that residents must file formal reports for enforcement action to proceed: without a police report, those responsible may escape penalties even when video or other evidence exists.

The back-to-back incidents have renewed calls from residents and local officials for tighter enforcement against accommodation operators and visitors who disturb neighbouring properties.