Maldives Police Service (MPS) has appointed regional commanders to five police divisions.
This was done in line with efforts to decentralize the police institution.
The new appointees received their letters of appointment from Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed during a ceremony at the Iskandar Building.
Minister of Home Affairs Sheikh Imran Abdulla, Deputy Commissioner of Police Abdulla Mannan Yoosuf, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ali Rasheed as well as executive officers of the MPS joined the ceremony.
The appointments are:
- Chief Superintendent of Police Mohamed Shiham to the Upper-North Police Division comprising of Haa Alif, Haa Dhaa and Shaviyani atolls
- Chief Superintendent of Police Moosa Ali to the North Police Division comprising of Noonu, Raa, Baa and Lhaviyani atolls
- Chief Superintendent of Police Abdulla Satheeh to the North-Central Police Division comprising of Kaafu, Alif Alif and Vaavu atolls
- Chief Superintendent of Police Hussain Rasheed to the South-Central Police Division comprising of Meemu, Faafu, Dhaalu, Thaa and Laamu atolls
- Chief Superintendent of Police Ahmed Shameem to the South Police Division comprising of Gaaf Alif, Gaaf Dhaal atolls, Addu City and Fuvahmulah City
Following discussions with the Police Commissioner, the home minister has allocated six regions where the Maldives Police Service divisions will be established. This comes under Article 6 of the new Police Service Act, which mandates the administration of policing services under a decentralized governance system.
The divisions are:
- Capital Police comprising of Malé, Hulhumalé, Hulhulé, Villimalé, Thilafushi and Gulhifalhu
- Upper-North Police comprising of Haa Alif, Haa Dhaal and Shaviyani atolls
- North Police comprising of Noonu, Raa, Baa and Lhaviyani atolls
- North-Central Police comprising of Kaafu, Alif Alif, Alif Dhaal and Vaavu atolls
- South-Central Police comprising of Meemu, Faafu, Dhaalu, Thaa and Laamu atolls
- South Police comprising of Gaaf Alif, Gaaf Dhaal, Gnaviyani and Seenu atolls
Prior to the amendment, the police service was divided into seven divisions with the inclusion of the capital region. The seventh was the Central Police Division comprising of Meemu, Faafu and Dhaal atolls which now come under the South-Central Division.
