The Maldives Police Service will introduce a Drone as First Responder service next year as part of efforts to modernise policing through advanced technology, Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Ali Ihsaan has announced.

Speaking at the ceremony marking the 93rd anniversary of the Maldives Police Service, Minister Ihsaan said the initiative supports President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's goal of improving police services through the use of modern technology.

He said the new service will enable drones to be deployed as first responders during emergencies. The Police Command and Control Centre's 911 Emergency Response Centre will also be upgraded with next-generation call handling technology, including real-time caller location tracking and live feeds from nearby police cameras.

Minister Ihsaan added that work is also underway to establish a state-of-the-art data centre to support the police service's technological infrastructure.

He said the new systems are expected to significantly enhance the quality of policing and public security.