Renaming of police intelligence flawed; could create misconceptions regarding Maldives' security framework: Hameed
Former Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed has criticized the decision to rename the police intelligence department to the "National Intelligence Service," describing it as a legally baseless and flawed move. He warned that this change could create confusion among security forces and mislead international partners into believing that the police hold the primary mandate for all national intelligence. Hameed emphasized that instead of a single institution consolidating power, the focus should remain on establishing a robust national framework to coordinate intelligence efforts across all relevant agencies.
Former Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed. | People's Majlis
Former Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed has criticized the decision to rename the Maldives Police Service’s Intelligence Department to the "National Intelligence Service," describing it as a mistake.
As part of the structural changes brought to the police administrative framework last Monday, the Maldives Police Intelligence has been renamed the "National Intelligence Service."
In a blog post shared on Medium regarding the matter, Hamheed stated that reports of the decision to rename the Maldives Police Service’s intelligence wing to the "National Intelligence Service" have sparked significant concern. Hamheed further noted that these concerns arise because the decision is fundamentally flawed.
Hameed stated that strengthening police intelligence is an absolute necessity. He emphasized that a modern police service requires a professional intelligence system to conduct investigations, prevent crime, and ensure public safety. Furthermore, such a system is vital for counter-terrorism efforts and addressing organized crime and threats to national security.
Hameed stated that renaming the police intelligence department to the "National Intelligence Service" implies that the police are assuming the primary role in national intelligence. He further noted that this serves as an indication of a single law enforcement agency attempting to position itself as the state's central intelligence authority.
However, Hamid noted that the most significant challenge is the current absence of a National Intelligence Act in the Maldives. Such legislation would establish a central authority and define its responsibilities, jurisdiction, and legal boundaries, as well as outline the framework for inter-agency cooperation.
Emphasizing that maintaining the nation's security is not the sole responsibility of a single entity, Hameed stated that alongside the police, agencies such as the MNDF, Customs, and Immigration also play a vital role in gathering intelligence essential for national security.
Hameed stated that using such a title without a legal foundation is problematic. He further noted that this could lead to confusion among the Maldives' security institutions and create a negative perception of the country's security framework among international partners collaborating with the Maldives in the fields of intelligence and security.
He further stated that such a change should only be implemented following extensive consultations. In this regard, Hamheed noted that discussions must be held with the Ministry of Defence, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Maldives Customs Service, Maldives Immigration, the Attorney General’s Office, and the President’s Office, as well as the relevant committees of the People’s Majlis.
Hameed stated that rather than centralizing all authority within a single institution, the current priority is to establish a robust national framework to coordinate the efforts of all relevant agencies.
