Parliament of the Maldives has passed the Maldives Police Service Bill.
The bill was passed following deliberations on the report prepared by the Parliamentary Committee on National Security Services upon review of the proposed bill. The bill was passed with votes from 59 parliamentarians.
The Police Service Bill was proposed by Parliamentarian Hassan Latheef from the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Chair of the Committee on National Security Services Mohamed Aslam said the final bill was sent for approval after incorporating the suggestions received from President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla and Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed.
The bill mandates the formation of a 7-member police board and a 5-member appeal board to look into allegations of corruption, misuse of power and inhumane acts committed by the police officers. The bill also details the actions to be taken for actions of mutiny among police officers.
The new bill further grants the authority for the police to operate with less-lethal weapons. It also grants them the authority to dig up graves to conduct autopsies on the dead.
The Maldives Police Service Bill was formulated as part of President Solih and MDP’s pledge to reform Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure the institution is operated in a professional manner.