After cold reception of retreat invites, Police forces officers to attend anyway

After the cold reception of the invitation to the retreat arranged by the senior leadership of the Maldives Police Service for its commissioned officers, the service forced its junior rank officers to attend the retreat.

The officers were asked in the Police Commissioned Officers’ Viber group to list the names of who can attend a retreat hosted between November 2-5 at Dh. Vaanee. The management requested interested officers to list their names by October 15, 12:00 AM and only 35 officers listed themselves. The group included 239 commissioned officers.

When they could not reach the the required number of officers for the retreat, the Deputy Commissioner of Police Abdul Mannaan Yoosuf said that the Investigation Manual and SOP has to be finalized and therefore, invitations will be extended to all regional commanders, two atoll commanders from each region, investigation officers and supervisory investigation officers.

Following which, the Superintendent of Police Yoonus Sobah had sent a letter to all Heads of Command to make their commissioned officers and department heads to attend the retreat as told by Mannaan.

According to a senior police officer, the lack of enthusiasm from the commissioned officers was due to their anguish toward the current police leadership.

A police officer questioned whether this was the time for picnics and enjoyment when the government has specifically been instructed to minimize cost and cut down expenses.

Despite the circular to reduce state expenses, the heads of the Maldives Police Service have continued to take international trips. Furthermore, the Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed has taken more trips abroad than any other police commissioner at a later date.