The Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, has announced that the Maldives Police Service will introduce a Drone as a First Responder service next year to improve emergency response.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the 93rd anniversary of the Maldives Police Service, Minister Ihusaan said the initiative forms part of the government's efforts to modernise policing and improve the quality of services.
He explained that once the system is operational, a police drone will be dispatched immediately after an incident is reported. The drone will transmit live video footage from the scene to responding officers and the Police Command and Control Centre.
The minister said the technology will enable officers to assess incidents in real time, even if traffic congestion or travel by sea delays their arrival at the scene. He added that the new system is expected to significantly improve the speed and effectiveness of police responses.
Minister Ihusaan also said efforts are under way to equip the police with advanced technology to further strengthen policing services.
"As part of these efforts, practical work has now begun on establishing a state-of-the-art data centre to support police technology. God willing, once these projects are completed, the service provided by the Maldives Police Service to the public will be significantly improved," he said.
The minister also announced plans to upgrade the 911 Emergency Response Centre at the Police Command and Control Centre with next-generation call-handling technology, real-time caller location tracking and instant access to police camera feeds in the surrounding area.
He said the current administration is giving special priority to expanding police services across the Maldives by investing in modern technology, developing human resources and improving the infrastructure needed to support policing.