The main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has affirmed a decline in crime rates and an unparalleled level of freedom has been guaranteed to the public. The remark was made by Mariya Ahmed Didi, the spokesperson for the party's candidate, during a press conference held at Salt Cafe' and Restaurant in Male' City.
Speaking at the press conference, Spokesperson Mariya emphasised that the pivotal measure taken to ensure a secure environment against crime was the reinforcement of the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and the establishment of police facilities on islands, irrespective of population size. As such, she noted that the reinforcements have effectively guaranteed the safety of the public.
Additionally, Mariya pointed out that over the last five years, the crime rate has exhibited a notable 50% decrease compared to the preceding five years. The accomplishment is attributed to the deliberate policies introduced by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, which have been key in safeguarding the security of Maldivian citizens.
Furthermore, Mariya revealed that a total of 5,587 cases of physical violence were reported during the years 2013-2018. She, however, emphasised that the number experienced a significant reduction to 2,777 cases from 2019-2023. In parallel, she highlighted that incidents of theft reached 26,146 cases during the period 2013-2018, which subsequently decreased to 18,748 cases from 2019-2023. She also noted that in 2013-2018, a total of 41 individuals lost their lives due to various criminal activities. In contrast, the count of individuals killed in connection to different crimes amounted to seven between 2019-2023.