More than 1,200 police officers and institutional staff marched across Malé and the outer atolls to commemorate Police Service Day, inaugurating celebratory activities marking the force’s transition from a military entity into an independent civil service on 1 September 2004.
Commencing at Republic Square after the administration of the police oath, the procession circled the capital island before returning to the square. The march, which included Ali Ihusaan, the Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology, and Commissioner of Police Ahmed Mohamed, symbolised institutional history, sacrifice, and sincerity, according to the Maldives Police Service.
Formal policing originally began on 29 March 1933, operating alongside the military until the 2004 separation. An initial statute followed in 2008, before a 2020 act reshaped the service around community policing. Celebrations feature children’s festivals, family activities, and sports programmes, alongside a ‘Blues Family Night’ on 5 September at 8:30 p.m. at the National Centre for Social Education, featuring performances by ‘Baarashu Shiyam’, ‘Habeys’, and the MNSU.
Police service has evolved into institution serving public, commissioner says
The Maldives Police Service has evolved into an institution capable of providing services to the public after 22 years since it began operating as a civilian service, Commissioner of Police Ahmed Mohamed said during the unity march.
The Maldives Police Service was transformed into a civilian service on 1 September 2004. Recalling the occasion, Commissioner Ahmed Mohamed noted that the service began that day with only a small number of police officers. However, he said the situation has changed significantly, as demonstrated by the number of officers who participated in today’s activities marking Police Service Day.
The Commissioner said that, through the work carried out over the past 22 years, the Police Service has developed into an institution capable of providing services to the public. He expressed confidence that the service would continue to develop further in the future.
“On this occasion, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has served the Maldives Police Service. In particular, on behalf of all Maldivian police officers, I would like to thank President Dr Mohamed Muizzu for the important work being carried out by the Government for the Police Service. I would also like to thank all police officers for the hard work they undertake in serving the public and fulfilling their legal responsibilities,” Commissioner Ahmed Mohamed said.