4 years for govt: Home sector press conference

Concluding the press conference - Minister Imran said that the home sector team will be undertaking all necessary efforts to ensure the safety and security of Maldives. 

Minister, CP Hameed, CP Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu answer more questions from the press 

When asked about influence - CP Hameed said that opportunities to influence the police have not been provided in his almost four-year tenure. 

CP Hameed said that a proper background check is conducted when individuals are selected to join Maldives Police Service. He added that 82 officers had been dismissed in the last four years, for improper conduct. 

CP Hameed commented that the police have been providing full cooperation to the Commission of Deaths and Disappearances (DDCom). In this regard, he said that suspects that have remained free have been arrested after securing evidence against them. He added that foreign experts are utilized in these investigations. 

Answering a question posed by a journalist regarding suspicious deaths, Home Minister Imran said that full cooperation is rendered to the commission undertaking investigations in such cases. 

CP Hameed also underscored an increase in prostitution in Male' area, and other regions. As a result, he said much work has been done in this trajectory in the last month or so. 

He further stated that 58 such cases were reported during the last four years, from which 32 cases have been investigated. 

140 people were arrested for prostitution, of which 84 had been deported. 

Moreover, he detailed that 58 operations have been carried out by the police targeting places where prostitution is practiced. 

Efforts are still ongoing, to eradicate drug cafes in Male' area, said CP Hameed.

CP Hameed detailed that 562 counter-narcotic operations were carried out in the past four years. Meanwhile, 11,955 people were arrested over drug-related offenses. 

CP Hameed said that a priority is also placed on counter-drug operations this year, and will also be placed next year. 

CP Hameed said that 984 officers joined the service in the past four years - of which 613 are uniformed officers. Moreover, 27 percent of the officers are women. 

CP Hameed noted that 4,201 officers have been trained over the past four years. 

CP Hameed said that the new Police Act requires all officers conducting investigations to hold a diploma by March of next year. He added that a special priority has been allocated to achieve this goal. 

Briefing regarding the work carried out during the past four years - CP Mohamed Hameed said that the highest priority was allocated to training police officers. In this regard, he noted that many officers had been trained both in the Maldives, and abroad. 

CP Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu detailed that 248 officers joined Corrections during the past eight years. Efforts are presently underway to recruit 80 additional officers, he also said. 

CP Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu said that 1,907 staff have been trained. 

CP Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu also noted the establishment of medical centers at two prisons, where inmates are being provided healthcare services. 

CP Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu said that the inmates reintegrated back into society following the rehabilitation program are being closely monitored. He added that efforts were underway to commence a second rehabilitation program. 

CP Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu said that a separate department was formed to carry out rehabilitation works of inmates, for which expert staff was recruited. He said a drug rehabilitation program was carried out inside a prison this year. Some inmates that completed the program have been reintegrated back into society, he added. 

CP Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu said that a separate department was formed to carry out rehabilitation works of inmates, for which expert staff was recruited. He said a drug rehabilitation program was carried out inside a prison this year. Some inmates that completed the program have been reintegrated back to the society, he added. 

Commissioner of Prisons Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu said that many efforts were undertaken during the last four years to provide basic services to inmates. In this regard, he detailed the facilitation of video calls for inmates in contacting their families. 

Minister also stated that many efforts were being undertaken to ensure no acts of brutality takes place in the course of providing services by the police and corrections. 

Results of the measures taken to counter gangs have become evident, said the Minister. 

Minister Imran detailed that 1.6 tons of drugs were seized during the past four years. Meanwhile, 1.9 tons of drugs, including those seized before, were destroyed. 

The highest priority allocated to solving the drug problem, said the Minister. 

Minister Imran said that the highest priority in reforming the police was the formulation of an up-to-date law. 

Minister Imran said that the press conference is being held for the purpose of briefing the media on the successes of the current administration during the past four years.