The Maldivian Police Service will undergo changes to become a more capable institution that provides the kind of services desired by Maldivian citizens, Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Ali Ihusan has said.
Speaking to PSM News after taking part in a solidarity walk held as part of activities marking Police Service Day, Minister Ihusan extended his greetings to serving police officers, former officers and their families.
The Minister noted that 22 years have passed since the police service transitioned from a military service to a civilian service, but said the service has not been developed to the extent necessary.
He said that when the current administration took office, police services were being provided from only 17 atoll centres. During the current administration, however, police services have been established across all inhabited islands of the Maldives.
“Although 22 years have passed since the police service was established as a civilian service, the population has increased and training has expanded, but the infrastructure has not increased to the same extent. As a result, there are significant challenges in providing Maldivian citizens with police services at the level they expect. Work is currently under way to establish dedicated police stations on all islands. We are also progressing with efforts to provide officers with training in the specialised fields they require,” Minister Ihusan said.
Referring to the way the Maldivian Police Service has operated to date, Minister Ihusan said that the lack of adequate resources has prevented officers from providing citizens with services at the required level of quality.
However, he said that with the country’s urban development and the provision of the training required by police officers, the capabilities of the police would increase, allowing the service to develop into an institution capable of providing the type of service desired by the public.
“All this infrastructure is being established, and the changes that need to be made to the structure of the police service are now being implemented. With the training and other resources that need to be provided in specialised areas, the police will become a more capable institution that can provide the kind of service desired by Maldivian citizens. God willing, the coming year will be the year in which the Maldivian Police Service reaches the level of service desired by the public,” Minister Ihusan said.
The Maldivian Police Service transitioned to a civilian service on 1 September 2004. Since then, under the current administration, police services have been expanded to all inhabited islands of the Maldives.
The government has also begun implementing a number of measures to provide the police with the infrastructure and resources needed to deliver services closer to communities and facilitate the institution’s efforts to establish a safe society.