Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau has emphasized that the full confidence of the public in police investigations can be achieved by producing results in all cases, without bias. He made the remarks during a special interview with PSM News.
Acknowledged the progress made by the police institution in recent years, the Commissioner noted that many people still harbour doubts about the institution's ability to handle the investigations effectively. He mentioned that, even after assuming office, he had received complaints regarding this issue.
Highlighting that investigations into serious cases are progressing well, the Commissioner highlighted that there is still much work to be done to establish public trust. He explained that these cases represent only a small fraction of the total number of cases reported to the Maldives Police Service, and added that the institution need to engage more actively with smaller cases.
As part of his efforts to foster public confidence, the Commissioner shared his vision of improving communication between complainants and investigating officers. He said the goal is for each investigating officer (IO) to contact the person associated with a case every 14 days to provide updates on the investigation or the work being done by the police and noted that this approach offers two key benefits.
He further noted that enhancing the relationship between the police and the public would expedite investigations and ensure that the parties involved are informed about the progress of their cases. Although this practice has been implemented in some areas, the Commissioner pointed out a shortage of investigating officers.
With recent changes in the law, the demand for investigating officers has increased, which requires them to manage a larger number of cases simultaneously. To address this challenge, the Commissioner stated that he is actively working to train more investigative officers.