Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusan, has emphasised that the police service must serve the people responsibly, warning that officers who do not work for this purpose have no place in the force.
He made the remark while speaking to PSM News at the opening ceremony of the Local Policing Conference 2025.
The Minister highlighted that while the police service has been operational in the Maldives for 90 years, modernisation efforts began around 20 years ago. However, today’s society is changing rapidly, he noted, with changes to laws, perception, technology and criminal patterns. The police service must also adapt its policies with the priorities of each government.
Noting that frontline officers work closest with the public, the Minister noted that the main purpose of the Local Policing Conference is to consult these officers and shaping police policies.
Commissioner of Police Ismail Naveen said the conference focuses on increasing the participation of police in the atolls and building capacity in the islands. Highlighting that the police service is operating in 187 islands, it is a priority to assess the criminal environment and patterns in these areas and train officers accordingly, he said.