Male’, Maldives – Former President and Speaker of the Parliament of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed has said that the Maldives Police Service Act enables a promising future for all those working in the Maldives Police Service.
The Act, stipulated under Article 92 of the Maldivian Constitution, was approved by the parliament on December 6 and was ratified by the President on Sunday. Implementation of the act is to start three months after the act is published in the Government Gazette.
Following the ratification of the act by the President, Speaker Nasheed tweeted saying that the amendments in the act were long awaited by many policemen as well as locals. He added that these amendments enable a promising future for the policemen.
In addition to establishing the fundamental principles, guidelines, roles and other aspects concerning police officers, the Act mandates all officers to ensure the safety of the public without discrimination or influence, in accordance with human rights best practices. The Act also promotes professional standards and aims to establish community-based policing services under a decentralised system.
Furthermore, the Act calls for the formation of the Police Board, which is tasked with overseeing and making decisions pertaining to police matters, within 14 days of ratification. The board of 7 members will be comprised of 2 members appointment by the President, 3 people with education and experience in a certain sector as well as two elected locals from the public.
While the parliament also included an amendment that stipulates the Police Board to reappoint all officers above the rank of superintendent with the exception of the Commissioner of Police, incumbent officers will maintain their positions until these efforts are complete. With the new Act, the current ‘Maldives Police Service’ established under the Police Act will also be renamed as ‘Dhivehi Fuluhunge Khidhumaiy’. However, the institution will continue to be referred as Maldives Police Service in English.
