The government is planning to shift its primary law enforcement focus on crime prevention programmes after the ongoing development of police infrastructure initiative across the country, the Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan has revealed.
Speaking to PSM news on the sidelines of the President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s ongoing tour of Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Minister Ihusaan reflected on the lack of police infrastructure on most islands when the incumbent government took office 19 months ago.
However, the Minister pointed out that this year has already seen the launch of multiple police station developments on islands previously without permanent facilities which forms part of a government-wide initiative to establish law enforcement services across all inhabited islands within a two-year timeframe.
"The aim is to build police stations, regional headquarters and Atoll level stations in islands with larger populations like Hanimaadhoo [Haa Dhaalu Atoll], " he explained.
Minister Ihusaan said the newly constructed police stations would have facilities for investigation, intelligence cells and custodial cells, as well as vehicle towing and police vehicle repair facilities. With the establishment of these facilities in the islands, a special programme will be launched for crime prevention and rehabilitation, he said.
"We will focus our efforts for crime prevention even more so than now. This is by far the most wide-ranging initiative to establish peace and security in the society,” he added.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced that his administration will establish a police presence in all inhabited islands of the Maldives by the end of this year. Additionally, 2025 has been designated as a year of infrastructure, with significant focus on enhancing the Maldives Police Service (MPS) infrastructure nationwide.
As part of this initiative, state-owned companies have been awarded contracts to build police stations on over 80 islands, addressing the lack of police presence on half of the nation's inhabited islands.