It is difficult to ascertain exactly when gangs began in the country and transformed into what we see today. After the death of inmate Evan Naseem in Maafushi jail, the State was compelled to release many inmates. The resultant uptake in crime contributed to the existing environment.
After President Maumoon's tenure, his successor, Mohamed Nasheed also failed to tackle the issue of crime and drugs. This is seen from the statistics published by Police. In the 2013 elections campaign, the biggest criticisms were leveled against current President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
"In the campaign most of the opposition figures on podiums spoke of the rumors made against President Yameen and crime. But the truth is President Nasheed's Government had failed to make Maldives a safe place," Member of Parliament for Naifaru Constituency Ahmed Shiyam said. "But President Yameen had tried to develop youth since he became President. He had clearly moved away from politics to serve the nation. That's why the youth on the streets are now employed. And criminals have been successfully rehabilitated to the society,"
We can debate on which Government had managed to successfully address crime. The Police annual crime rates from 2011 to 2013 and from 2014 onward can give us a clearer picture.
Police statistics show that between 2011 and 2013, show that 3,870 assault cases were filed. The figure had dropped to 2,555 between 2014-2016; a dip of 34 percent. Theft cases were at 17,987 in the period between 2011 and 2013, dropping to 11,682 between 2014-2016. This is a decrease of 35.1 percent. The 2,419 cases of robbery fell to 1,699 in the periods in question.
Drug cases have been reduced to 6,865 from 8,321. Sexual assault cases have been reduced by 25 percent from 1,793 cases registered between 2011-2013. Counterfeit and forgery cases have been reduced by 33.1 percent as well.
The indicators show a marked change in crime, which had not been seen before. The indicators were at an upward trend from 2008 to 2014, dropping from then onward.
The most promising project initiated by the Government to curb crime was the rehabilitation program for minors carried out in Dh. Vaanee. We have seen the successes of this program, a success not seen before. Additionally, the Government had cracked down on known gang leaders by introducing monicon system, effectively "sizing" up the gangs. Processes of this nature introduced through the legislative agenda had proved effective in dealing with crime.
Police Public Affairs Department's Inspector of Police Moosa Rasheed said the agency now employs a four stage program to address crime. This, he said involved, minors, youth, parents, NGO's and Government agencies.
"We run programs aimed at these group. Ready camp is run for minors. Blues for youth is run for youth and a sports diplomacy program is run for others. Harsh reprimands will not work for everyone. We seek to use sports to provide a framework, ingrate discipline. The crime rate for the past three years fell because of this," Moosa said.
So far this year, Police had conducted 21 Ready camps. while 27 Blues for youth camps were held.
