Once the new stations are finished, police services will be available in all islands, with two-thirds of the islands receiving their own modern police stations.
More than MVR 15 million has been spent on renting police stations in various islands last year, according to police.
Information obtained by Mihaaru News under the Right to Information Act reveals that there are 146 police stations across residential islands, including 89 police stations, 44 police posts, and 13 police desks.
However, only 15 of these stations operate in police-owned buildings. The rest of the 97 premises are rented, while the remaining 34 are operated without the need for rent.
In some islands, council buildings and private properties are used to provide police services.
Last year, a total of MVR 15.6 million was spent on the rent of police stations, which amounts to about 1 percent of the police's total budget of MVR 2.1 billion.
The highest expenditure on rented buildings was for the Galolhu Police Station, which costs MVR 150,000 per month. The rental agreement for this station was signed on October 6, 2022, for a two-and-a-half-year period. However, the agreement has now expired, and there is no further information regarding its status.
The lowest rent is paid for the Laamu atoll Maabaidhoo Police Station, where the rent is MVR 7,000. This agreement was signed on January 1, 2024, for a three-year term.
In response to the shortage of private police stations, the government has awarded contracts to three companies to build new police stations in 75 islands. Some of these stations are expected to be completed later this year.
The ministry described this initiative as the largest construction project in the 91-year history of the police. Once the new stations are finished, police services will be available in all islands, with two-thirds of the islands receiving their own modern police stations.
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