S.L. 595.37 Art. 3Establishment of Agency.      Cap. 595.    Cap. 452.

(1) There shall be an Agency, to be known as the

Victim Support Agency, which shall carry out the functions listed in article 4.

(2) Employees of this Agency shall be appointed by the Chief Executive Officer under such terms and conditions as may be approved by the Minister and shall include:

(a) any public officer;

(b) any member of and any other person employed or appointed in or for the purposes of the Malta Police Force as well as of any other disciplined force of the State; and

(c) any member of and any other person employed or appointed in or for the purposes of the Department of Probation and Parole.

(3) The Agency may also appoint other officers and employees. The terms and conditions of employment shall be established by the Agency with the concurrence of the Minister in accordance with the provisions of the Public Administration Act and any subsidiary legislation made thereunder.

(4) The Agency shall appoint and employ, at such remuneration and upon such terms and conditions as it may in accordance with sub-article (1) determine, such officers and employees of the Agency as may be necessary for the due and efficient discharge of the function of the Agency in compliance with established Government procedures:

Provided that all employees having an employment contract on the date of the coming into force of this Order shall be taken over by the Agency in terms of article 38 of the Employment and Industrial Relations Act and become employees of the Agency.

(5) Public officers deployed with the Agency shall be deemed to be detailed with the Agency in accordance with article 43 of the Act.

(6) The Victim Support Agency shall, as from the coming into force of this order assume responsibility for all assets, liabilities and obligations previously entered into by the Hate Crime and Speech Unit.