Home Minister promises action to prevent assaults, drug offences

Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer has said that an ‘attack’ is being planned to address the increase in crimes such as assaults, murders, and drug offences in the country.

Umar Naseer made this remark at a ceremony held at Iskandar Koshi this morning to celebrate ten years since the establishment of Maldives Police Service as a separate institution.

“We are preparing ‘an attack’ on the complete structure [of assaults, murders, and drug offences]. We will attack soon. This is great news for the police, you can be assured of that,” said Umar Naseer.

He said that the increase in assaults is the biggest challenge faced by the police institution, and it is not enough for the police to ‘issue press releases’ following every such incident.

Umar Naseer said that the government’s plans to combat this problem include taking action to prevent gang criminals from returning to the society, through threats and intimidation issued to witnesses and judges during the court process.

He highlighted that the root cause of assaults is drug offences, and said that assaults cannot be prevented without taking measures to prevent drug offences. He assured that the government’s action plan will cover a time span of ten years.