Maldives Police Service

Maldives Police Service
ދިވެހި ފުލުހުންގެ ޚިދުމަތް
Maldives Police Service; ދިވެހި ފުލުހުންގެ ޚިދުމަތް
	Logo
Motto	To Protect and Serve.
Agency overview
Formed	1 September, 2004
Preceding agency	29 March 1933;
Employees	10000+
Jurisdictional structure
Population	517,887 (January 2023 est.)
Legal jurisdiction	Republic of Maldives
Constituting instrument	The Police Act, 34/2020;
General nature	Civilian police;
Operational structure
Headquarters	Shaheed Hussain Adam Building, Boduthakurufaanu Magu, Malé, Maldives
Elected officer responsible	Ali Ihusan, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology;
Agency executives	Ali Shujau, Commissioner of Police; Farhad Fikry, Deputy Commissioner of Police; Ismail Naveen, Deputy Commissioner of Police;
Parent agency	Ministry of Homeland Security And Technology
Facilities
Police Stations	155+ including Police Desks
Website
	police.gov.mv

The Maldives Police Service (Dhivehi: ދިވެހި ފުލުހުންގެ ޚިދުމަތް, romanized: dhivehi fuluhunge khidhumaiy) is the civilian national police force of the Republic of Maldives. It is responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout Maldives. The organization comes under the control of the Ministry of Homeland Security And Technology.

History

A Police force was established by Law on 29 March 1933, during the reign of Al-Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III. The service consisted initially of 120 officers, organised into duty shifts. Officers were issued with uniforms of Maldivian Traditional Dress of Mundu and Libaas plus black cap, belt and straps on duty. They were equipped with batons and issued whistles for communication. Their duty was to patrol the market area and the island. In other words, establishing peace amongst the citizens and protecting the people and their belongings. The law that established police on 29 March 1933 by Sultan Mohamed Shamsudhdheen, has never been cancelled by any of the historical writings seen so far. It is known that Police and Military were separate organizations when they first formed.

The Police worked with the assistance of the Military when needed, the protection and help of military was available as the Law stated . During the earlier days of Police, there was violence between the foreign investors and the Maldivians. The foreigners stopped business with Maldivians and closed their shops which caused the Maldivians to suffer. The Police tried their best to control the situation, but needed the help of the Military. The Military helped the Police in their full strength and finally brought the situation under control. That was on 15 May 1933.

The initial Investigation office was small with only three investigation tables . The three tables in the investigating office represented three sections of the service; Theft, Political and Serious Crimes. The office was mostly painted in green which is why the place was also called the Green Office. In 1970 Police office was changed to the building that has since become the Bandara Koshi library. New sections formed; Traffic Control and road accidents were being monitored by the police. The police force was soon disbanded although the initial law was not revoked. The police force was formally re-established on 13 March 1972, as a branch of the security force, which were then known as National Guards, functioning under the Ministry of Public Safety.

The operating procedures of service established in 1933 were maintained until the election of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on 11 November 1978. When the force was re-structured under Ministry of Defense and National Security on 10 January 1979, National Guards were renamed as National Security Service. Since the organization was expanding, the lack of space in the building was experienced. As a result, finally, in 1985 the headquarters was re-located to the building of the current Ministry of Defense and National Security. Apart from an Admin Section, five investigation sections were formed.

And in 1992 a Police Inspector from the West Yorkshire Police named David Price introduced the modern working structure of the Police, introducing Police beats and mobile patrols. Police shifted to Shaheedh Hussain Adam Building in 1999 and on 1 September 2004 Maldives Police Service was formed under the Ministry of Home Affairs which was a major functional shift of the present administration. National Security Service was later renamed as Maldives National Defence Force.

On 1 July 2013 police reserve force known as the Special Constabulary was inaugurated. And on 23 July 2013 first official ceremony to commemorate the Police Memorial Day was held. The Police Memorial Day is an annual nationwide event which aims to remember, honour and pay respects to each and every Police Officer who lost their lives in the line of duty. And on the same day Police Memorial Wall was inaugurated to honour the members of the Maldives Police Service who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Organization structure

Source:^[2]

Commissioners Bureau

Executive Support Services
International Relations Department
Police Media Center
Grievance Officer

Organisational Reform and Development

Strategic Planning Department
Legal Department

Professional Standards Command

Administration Unit
Internal Investigation Unit
Quality Assessment and Awareness unit

Directorate of Intelligence

Bureau of Internal Security
Bureau of External Security
Signals Intelligence Command
State Political Police Command

Crime Investigation Command

Drug Enforcement Department
Economic Crime Department
Family & Child Protection Department
Major Crime Management Center
General Investigation Department
Anti-Human Trafficking Unit
Victim Support Unit

Internal Security Command

Male’ City Police
Traffic Management Department
Industrial Security Department
Special Operations Department
Police Communication Center
Major Events
HULHUMALE POLICE

Divisional Operations Command

NORTHERN OPERATIONS
Upper North Police Division
North Police Division
North Central Police Division
SOUTHERN OPERATIONS
Central Police Division
South Central Police Division
Upper South Police Division
South Police Division

Specialist Support

Forensic Services
Information & Communication Technology Services
Police Custodial Department
Marine Police Department

Staff Welfare and Finance Management

Finance and Asset Management
Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Services
Public Affairs Department
Human Resource Development

Support Services

Logistic Services
Police Medical Services
Uniform & Accessories Department
Police Club
Police Family Association
PCCC Club

Training and Development

National College of Policing and Law Enforcement

Rank structure Before 2020

	Commissioner			Superintendent		Inspector
Maldives Police Service^[3]
Maldives Police Service^[3]	Commissioner of police	Deputy commissioner	Assistant commissioner	Chief superintendent	Superintendent of police	Chief inspector of police	Inspector of police	Sub inspector of Police

	Station inspector		Sergeant		Other
Maldives Police Service^[3]							No insignia
Maldives Police Service^[3]	Police chief station inspector	Police station inspector	Police staff sergeant	Sergeant	Police corporal	Police lance corporal	Police constable

Medals and ribbons

Source:^[4]

Medals

National Level Medals

Medal of Honor
Presidential Medal
Medal for Exceptional Bravery
Medal for Bravery
3 November Medal
Purple Heart
Long Service Medal
Independence 50 Medal
Republic 50 Medal
Tsunami Medal

Service Level Medals

Distinguished Service Medal
Police Service Medal
Gold Life Saving Medal
Silver Life Saving Medal
Dedicated Service Medal
Good Conduct Medal
Police Medal

Ribbons

National Level Ribbons

Presidential Ribbon

Service Level Ribbons

Long Service Ribbon
Ribbon of Bravery
Dedicated Service Ribbon
Police Service Ribbon
Good Conduct Ribbon
Special Duty Ribbon
Achievement Gold Ribbon
Achievement Silver Ribbon
Ribbon of Skill
Ribbon of Drill
Ribbon OF Great Discipline

Vehicles

10x Toyota Hilux Japan (Transport)
17x Isuzu D-Max Japan (Equipment Transport)
115x+ Airblade 125 Philippines (Traffic Patrol) More New Models To Be Delivered City/Some Islands
55+ Mazda6 Japan City Police
95+ Suzuki GN125 India Japan Island Patrol
47X RHIB
55+ Speedboats Maldives India
155x Honda CBX 350 Japan ( Some Retired)
25x Yamaha FJR1300 Japan (For Vip Escort & Special Missions)
35x BMW R1200RT Germany (Sinamalé Bridge Traffic And Special Escorts)
11x Ford Transit (Forensics Missions)
14x Isuzu Elf (Modified Especially For Riot Police )
8x Honda Accord ( For the VIP Transport Of Higher Police Officials And Families)
2x Jeep Wrangler ( Dangerous Criminal Transport & Vip Criminal transport)
23x Mitsubishi Outlander ( Hulhumale City Traffic Patrol 24/7)
21x Polaris RZR ( Vilimale & Hulhumale Patrol)
2x PSC patrol craft ( Maritime Cyclone Patrol )
5x PGR patrol craft (Unknown)
3x Gading Marine FAC PC 31 ( Central atoll patrol)
90+ DJI Mavic (Special Missions)

References

^ "Maldives Police Service Act (Dhivehi)". mvlaw.gov.mv. Law No. 34/2020. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^ Infrastructure, Police Information. "Maldives Police Service". www.police.gov.mv. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
^ ^a ^b "Rank Insignias". Maldives Police Official Website. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
^ Infrastructure, Police Information. "Maldives Police Service". www.police.gov.mv. Retrieved 19 February 2017.