Minister: No consideration to stature if the law is infringed

Home Minister Ali Ihusan states Maldives Police Service has the complete authority to enforce law without consideration to stature when it comes to infringements of the law by individuals.

He made the remark at the ceremony held on Wednesday morning to launch the 2024-2028 police strategic action plan.

In his speech, Minister Ihusan said Maldivian citizens wish for the Police to provide its services without consideration to a person’s stature.

“We do not have to consider whether the person is a government minister, a parliament member or a person of another stature, if they have infringed the law,” he said.

The Minister affirmed that the current administration will not instruct the Police to act a certain way regarding a specific person. He underscored that the guideline for police formulated by the government includes a provision against discrimination.

Speaking further, Minister Ihusan called upon police officers to become responsible individuals.

He also underscored the need to integrate technology in policing services. In this regard, he stressed the need to acquire the most up to date equipment for policing services and train officers to leverage the equipment in discharging their duties. He added that public must be guided to utilize the technology in order to ensure police work is expedited.

The Minister also spoke regarding the expenses incurred for Maldives Police Service from the state budget, which he placed at roughly MVR 2 billion per year. This accounts for four percent of the state’s budget.

“This means MVR 4 from each MVR 100 is mandated by Maldivian citizens to fund the Maldives Police Service. MVR 4 from each MVR 100. The state will have expectations when such an expenditure is allocated from the state. The citizens will also have huge expectations. That expectation is to produce results,” he said.

Minister Ihusan added that he will oversee whether the police strategic action plan is implemented.

The police service is shaped under the specific strategic policing requirement of the administration that is currently in place. Minister Ihusan said the plan was handed over to the Police, in the presence of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, approximately one month ago.

Maldives Police Service Act mandates the police to formulate a strategic action plan based on the requirements instructed by the government. The Commissioner of Police is responsible for the plan and each senior officer is mandated to implement the plan, the Minister noted.

The new strategic action plan was inaugurated by Minister Ihusan during Wednesday’s ceremony.

Police Commissioner Ali Shujau, who also spoke at the ceremony, said the plan includes creating a dedicated department to fight gang-related crime and drug trafficking.

Another key focus of the new strategic action plan is decentralization of police services.

It also plans to focus on strengthening the ties between police and local communities, and bolstering greater community engagement.