President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has expressed concern over the rising cases of cybercrime. He made the remark at the ceremony held to mark the 90th anniversary of the Maldives Police Service (MPS).
At the ceremony, President Solih emphasised the rapid growth of technological innovation and cautioned that while it brings about positive changes to society, it also has negative consequences. He noted that it has led to the rise of cybercrime and the need for every country to address the issue as criminals are now using the internet and the latest technologies to steal and damage people’s livelihoods.
Additionally, President Solih said that police officers are being trained to use technology to serve the people, highlighting that frontline officers now use body-worn cameras and taser guns and have undergone training to respond responsibly. He also said that crimes can now be committed outside of the country and that officers need to stay vigilant against criminal activity outside the nation by working with police services in other countries. As such, he noted that the Maldives upgraded its border control system in 2019 and MPS was granted access to the database of the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) in 2020 and said that these efforts benefit the Maldives and other nations.
Furthermore, President Solih underlined the need for MPS to diversify and adapt to contemporary society, noting that the aim is to ensure necessary education and training for every member of the police service in their relevant fields. He highlighted that police stations have been established in 18 islands of the nation during the current term and that 100 islands currently offer neighborhood policing services. He added that the government is making efforts to ensure that, by the end of this year, police services will be available in all islands.