Insufficient policies on weapons and police authority: HRCM

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has stated that several key policies regarding the utilization of weaponry and exercise of authority by the Maldives Police Service have not been formulated and publicized.

HRCM in its policy review on weaponry and use of force of the police said that the police regulations referred to the UN general guidelines.

The report said that while the law enforcement is required to formulate seven policies directly enforced by the regulations, only one has been formulated and publicized so far.

The HRCM report said that the police operation manual along with the policy on safe and secure maintenance of weapons, return of weapons by officers after duty, and accountability of officers post usage of weapons were important policies.

HRCM recommended promptly formulating the six remaining policies related to police regulations on weapons and the use of force and publicizing them within the timeline stipulated by the regulations.

The commission in its policy review further highlighted that the police has only publicized the 'policy on arming and usage of conductive energy device'.

The six remaining policies are currently under various phases of formulation, HRCM said.

HRCM also said the policy review was aimed at understanding the regulations and policies regarding weapons and use of force by the police, and if they were formulated while ensuring preservation of human rights.