Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure on Wednesday officially handed over the security of the Sinamale and Male Hiya flat complexes in capital Male and suburb Villimale, to Maldives Police Service.
Under this agreement, special constabulary police officers will oversee the security of the flat complexes. The constabulary force is also tasked with the security of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Maldives Inland Revenue Authority, Bank of Maldives and other major state institutions.
Regarding the flats which are currently under the housing ministry's administration, the ministry shared that 46 additional surveillance cameras will be added to the area while undercover police officers will also operate on the scene.
The ministry assured that the Sinamale and Male Hiya flat complexes, which have notorious high-crime reputations, will be safer with this new development. Some of the most common crimes around these areas include substance abuse, gang violence, and sexual assault.
The housing ministry further announced that a special office to oversee maintenance work of the flats will be opened next week.
State minister of housing, Mohamed Ibrahim, stated that the government was working to renovate the flats, which fell into severe disrepair while they were under Male City Council's administration.
The government had taken back the flats after Housing Minister Dr. Mohamed Muizzu accused Male City Council of major negligence in maintaining the flats. However, the City Council had refuted the allegations, with Mayor Shifa Mohamed claiming that the council had written to the housing ministry on multiple counts regarding the need to revamp the flats, but that the ministry had not cooperated.
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