A Brief Look At The History of Maldives Police Service On Their 88th Anniversary!
The Maldives Police Service (MPS) is the civilian national police force of the Republic of Maldives that is undertaking the responsibility of forcing criminal and traffic law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout the country. Today, the organization is celebrating 88 years since its inception.
A police force was established in the Maldives in 29th March 1933, during the reign of A-Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III. At the beginning, there were about 120 officers – organized into duty shifts. Their uniform was the Maldivian Traditional Dress of Mundu and Libaas that was complemented by a black cap, belt and straps. They were equipped with batons and issued whistles for communication. The main responsibilities police had back then was to patrol the market area and the island as there was a lot of violence between the foreign investors and the Maldivians back then, in addition to establishing peace amongst the citizens and protecting the people and their belongings. They were operating with assistance from the Military, although having been separate organizations when they first formed.
The first investigation office was small with only three investigation tables. These three tables in the investigating office represented three sections of the service; Theft, Political and Serious Crimes.
In 1970, the office was moved to the building that has since become the Bandara Koshi library. New sections formed such as traffic control and road accidents. However, the police force was soon disbanded. On 13th March 1972, the police force was formally re-established once again – this however as a branch of the security force, which were then known as National Guards. Following this, the police force developed rapidly.
Nevertheless, the operating procedures of service established in 1933 were maintained until the election of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom on 11th November 1978. The police force was then re-structured under the 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. Finally, in 1985 the Police Office changed to the building where the Ministry of Defense is located today. Apart from an Admin Section, five investigation sections were formed. Young people started joining the force and Police were sent abroad and ta rained to receive the modern education of those days.
In 1992, David Price, a Police Inspector from the West Yorkshire Police introduced the modern working structure of the Police, introducing Police beats and mobile patrols. However, it was not until 1999 when the police force shifted to their current headquarters - Shaheed Hussain Adam Building.
Finally, on 1st September 2003, Maldives Police Service was formed under the Ministry of Home Affairs – as a separate organization from the National Security Service which was then renamed as the Maldives National Defense Force.
(Photo: MPS)