Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan has stated that officers who fail to meet performance expectations will have no place in the Maldives Police Service, emphasising the need for accountability, stronger operational capacity, and measurable results.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Local Policing Conference 2025 at Paradise Island Resort, the Minister said policing must be delivered responsibly and effectively, stressing that the service must evolve in line with the country’s changing security needs and public expectations.

The Minister noted that although the Police Service has undergone modernisation for nearly 20 years, significant gaps remain in meeting current policing requirements set out by law and demanded by the public. He added that crime patterns have changed considerably, requiring updated strategies, improved responsiveness, and stronger community engagement.

Minister Ihusaan added that the crime landscape in the Maldives has evolved significantly, and that each administration sets out strategic policing requirements by law. He said the current level of police performance must be assessed against these expectations and emphasised that the work carried out so far has not yet reached the standard expected by either the Government or the institution itself.

He stressed that the coming reforms will focus on boosting operational efficiency, reducing unnecessary administrative work, and increasing police presence across communities. According to the Minister, investigations must move faster, officers must be more visible on the streets, and public confidence must be restored through consistent and effective policing.

He further added that investigations must move faster, police presence on the streets must increase, community engagement must be strengthened, and crime levels must be reduced. He further emphasised that response quality must improve and administrative burdens must be minimised, identifying these as priority areas for reform.

The three-day Local Policing Conference brings together 170 participants from across all branches of the Maldives Police Service. The conference aims to evaluate current challenges, identify operational gaps, and formulate a unified action plan to strengthen policing nationwide.