He was the first Public Prosecutor in Malta under the renamed system of the Office of the Crown Advocate after 1921: specifically, the office was re-designated to have dual functions (“Public Prosecutor and Treasury Counsel”) with Victor Frendo Azzopardi as the first Public Prosecutor in the period 1921-1928.
The legal office’s history: prior to 1921 the “Crown Advocate” handled many roles (legislation drafting, prosecution, civil advice). After responsible government in Malta (1921) the reorganisation took place.
In effect, his role was very important for criminal law matters in that period under Maltese self-government: the Public Prosecutor would deal with criminal law, while the Treasury Counsel handled civil law.
Context & Significance
The fact that the Office was reorganised in 1921 is significant: that’s around the time Malta began internal “responsible government” (i.e., more autonomy), and this legal reform reflects that shift.
Victor Frendo Azzopardi thus sits at an important juncture in Maltese legal history: he is among those who shaped the modern prosecutorial apparatus of Malta.
His tenure (1921-1928) means he would have been active during inter-war years, dealing with the legal burdens of that era in Malta.