Investigation: The hazardous state of Fort Campbell
Published June 19, 2026
The Complaint
The Commissioner for Environment and Planning investigated a complaint alleging neglect on reports of dangers posed by the hazardous buildings at Fort Campbell in Mellieħa.
The Investigation
Following a site inspection, the Commissioner observed that there were no warning signs at the main access point to the site. As a result, several individuals were found within the premises, including inside hazardous rooms and structures that were openly accessible to the public. These areas, which posed significant safety risks, were neither fenced off nor otherwise secured. The only “No Entry” sign present was located deep within the site and was therefore ineffective in warning visitors before they entered the dangerous areas.
The Commissioner further considered that the Lands Authority’s reliance on the provisions of the Civil Code, which establish that every person is responsible for damage caused through his own fault, and on the principle that liability may be reduced when a person enters a dangerous site despite warnings, could only be relevant if the Authority, as administrator of the site, had first fulfilled its duty of care. This would have required the Authority to take reasonable measures to safeguard the public, including the installation of adequate warning signage and the securing of all dangerous structures through physical barriers or, alternatively, the clearance or demolition of unsafe buildings. The Commissioner noted that warning signs alone are insufficient to physically prevent public access and cannot, in themselves, absolve the Authority of potential criminal liability.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The complaint alleging that reports concerning the dangers posed by the deteriorated state of Fort Campbell had been ignored by the Lands Authority was found to be justified. The Commissioner recommended that all hazardous buildings and structures within the site be either secured against public access or cleared without delay, given the risks they posed to members of the public who are entitled to visit this public site.
Outcome
In line with the recommendations set out in the Final Opinion, the Lands Authority subsequently restricted access to all dangerous buildings on the site by installing more than half a kilometre of fencing and erecting six large “No Entry” signs.
