Maldives Police Service has officially started using body-worn cameras.

At a special ceremony today attended by the Home Minister, Imran Abdulla and the Commissioner of Police, Mohamed Hameed, the Police body cameras were inaugurated by the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Aishath Shauna.

A pilot program was conducted in 2019 to test the use of body-worn cameras during police work where they were used by frontline officers.

Speaking at the ceremony today, Commissioner Hameed announced that the body cameras are first going to be used in Male' City and Addu City with 200 cameras.

He said that the use of body-worn cameras are going to build trust with the public. And the issue of complaints against police officers would have a modern solution.

Commissioner Hameed said that the cameras would be used, not only to identify misconduct by officers but also disprove allegations made against them. He said that it would also show the perspective of the police officers and thus, a better perspective of the situations where police officers are filmed and upload on social media by members of the public.

Body-worn cameras are going to be used by officers on street patrols, traffic duty, drug operations, special operations, protests and rallies along with other activities they are involved in on an official capacity, according to the Commissioner.

He also said that a regulation has been established under which the cameras will record the interactions between police officers and members of the public. And if a video needs to be released, it would be done so within the set regulations.

Ministry of Finance and Treasury made an announcement in August 2021 to find 1,400 body-worn cameras. However, the program launched today with 200 cameras.