Procedure to withhold officer's leaves based on operational level: Police

Maldives Police Service (MPS) have clarified that it is procedure to withhold annual leaves of police personnel based on the force's operational level, which was raised to level 2 amid worsening of the Covid-19 pandemic across the country.

 Police confirmed the procedure following a question presented, regarding concerns being raised by police officers who are unable to take leaves at this time. MPS confirmed that leaves of police officers were being withheld as the operational level of the force had been raised to 2. This change was made over growing fears that the Covid-19 pandemic was worsening across Maldives amid a devastating third peak.

As such, police officers working on the frontlines to implement health and safety regulations set forth by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have been operating at operational level 2 and are disallowed from requesting annual leaves.

However, MPS noted that at present, leaves were being granted for family emergencies and other important events such as weddings of those working as police personnel. Police also noted that they had not received any complaints from officers as leaves were being issued in such a manner.

Spokesperson for the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) Dr. Nazla Rafeeq has confirmed that last week saw the greatest number of new Covid-19 cases confirmed across the Maldives since the first case of the infection was discovered in Male' City on 15 April 2020.

Maldives Police Service play a key role in ensuring implementation of critical health and safety guidelines set forth to control the transmission of Covid-19. As of now, a curfew and vehicle movement restriction order are in effect in the nation's capital Male', enforcing implementation of which falls to officers of MPS.