Homeland Minister Directs Police to Modernize Public Service Approach

Homeland Security and Technology Minister Ali Ihusan has issued a clear directive to the Maldives Police Service, emphasizing that officers must serve the public responsibly and warning that those who don't align with this purpose "have no place in the force." The Minister delivered this message during the opening ceremony of the Local Policing Conference 2025, where he outlined the need for the police service to evolve with changing times. While noting the service's 90-year operational history in the Maldives, Ihusan highlighted that modernization efforts only began about two decades ago. "Today's society is changing rapidly," the Minister observed, pointing to transformations in laws, public perception, technology, and criminal patterns. He stressed that police policies must adapt accordingly while aligning with each government's priorities. Ihusan emphasized the critical role of frontline officers who work most closely with communities, explaining that the Local Policing Conference aims to consult these officers and shape policies based on their ground-level experience. Police Commissioner Ismail Naveen reinforced this approach, stating the conference focuses on increasing police participation across the atolls and building capacity in island communities. With the police service operating across 187 islands, Naveen identified assessing local criminal environments and patterns as a priority, along with providing targeted training to officers serving these diverse communities.