Legal Politics

President Solih ratifies new Maldives Police Service Act

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Sunday ratified the Maldives Police Service Act (Law No. 34/2020), granting substantive authority over the police institution to the parliament’s Committee on National Security Services.

The Act, which is stipulated under Article 92 of the Maldivian Constitution, was approved by the parliament on December 6.

According to the newly ratified bill, the purpose of granting increased powers to the Committee on National Security Services, commonly known as the 241 committees, is to ensure that it can exercise its vested oversight authority over Maldives Police Service (MPS) as stipulated in the Constitution.

The Act calls for the formation of the Police Board, which is tasked with overseeing and making decisions pertaining to police matters, within 14 days of ratification.

While the parliament also included an amendment that stipulates the Police Board to reappoint all officers above the rank of a superintendent with the exception of the Commissioner of Police, incumbent officers will maintain their positions until these efforts are complete.

The National Integrity Commission (NIC) is required to provide counsel for the reappointment process, with the body mandated to submit detailed reports within 45 days following the ratification of the Police Service Act. NIC’s report must highlight the number and type of complaints submitted against officers, clarify if any of the complaints pertain to allegations of corruption or inhumane acts, and note whether a disciplinary issue has been proven against the candidate.

In addition to establishing the fundamental principles, guidelines, roles and other aspects concerning police officers, the Act mandates all officers to ensure the safety of the public without discrimination or influence, in accordance with human rights best practices.

The Act also promotes professional standards and aims to establish community-based policing services under a decentralised system.

With the new Act, the current ‘Maldives Police Service’ established under the Police Act will be renamed as ‘Dhivehi Fuluhunge Khidhumaiy’. However, the institution will continue to be referred to as the Maldives Police Service in English.

Following ratification, the Maldives Police Service Act is now published in the Government Gazette.

Full details are available at the link below:

Source URL: Google News

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