The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has stated that the Maldives Police Service (MPS) is generally compliant with the United Nations (UN) guidelines on the use of force but has neglected to formulate and publish some crucial policies.
In its policy review report, HRCM stated that the MPS regulations on the use of force and weapons under the Police Service Act are in compliance with the UN guidelines. However, some crucial policies under the guidelines have not been formulated and published.
Additionally, HRCM stated that the operational manual, which details how police officers should use weapons in various situations, and the policies for safely handling weapons are essential for accountability and responsibility. However, MPS has formulated and published only one of seven policies under the UN guidelines. Therefore, HRCM recommended that MPS formulate the relevant policies and make them public within the period specified by the UN guidelines.
Furthermore, HRCM stated that its main objective of the review was to identify the police procedures regarding the use of force and weapons to ensure its compliance with human rights standards. As such, the commission reviewed three laws, five regulations, and two policies for its report.