Former Police Commissioner and MP for Kimbidhoo constituency, Abdulla Riyaz has said that if the situation calls for it, a special team of the Maldives Police Service should be allowed access to weapons.

Talking on Rajje TV’s “Falasurukhee” program last night, the former Police Commissioner said that the police forces in other countries also use lethal weapons as the police are the first responders. He said that some countries have a trained, armed unit of the police to respond to paramilitary groups.

Riyaz said that the police are authorized to use lethal force according to the Police Act and when the law was made, the people who made it then believed it should be possible. He said that the important thing is the policy of the administration in charge and the role of the military must be debated as well.

“We are a very small country. We first have ask the question if our military works as an army or a security force. (We) have to have that debate.” MP Riyaz said.

Riyaz said that when he was the Commissioner, he intended to create a SWAT team authorized to use lethal force when they are on duty with firearms available to them. And they were trained as well with the help of the MNDF and from abroad.

He said that he believes the police need to have an armed response unit and the police was given a very strong training in the use of firearms and there are very capable officers in Maldives Police Service.