The Prosecutor General’s Office has amended the Police Record Keeping Regulations to allow paper documents related to criminal cases to be destroyed within one year if the case is not prosecuted.
The amendment was gazetted by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology on Tuesday, and introduces new clauses to Article 21 of the existing regulations.
Article 21 outlines the procedures for storing and maintaining documents related to cases submitted to the police. It requires that documents in cases forwarded for prosecution be retained until a court decision is reached or the appeal process is completed.
The newly added clauses specify that if the Prosecutor General decides not to prosecute a criminal case, the Head of the Administrative Department responsible for police records may authorize the destruction of related documents within one year from the date of the decision.
Police officers active on the road: 73,953 vehicles inspected and 7,606 vehicles penalized in 2024. (Photo/Maldives Police Service)
The amendment also addresses cases where investigations are completed but do not result in prosecution due to lack of evidence and the offense not being classified as serious. If the investigator and their supervisor provide a written endorsement stating that further evidence is unlikely to be recovered, the case may be closed under these grounds. In such instances, Regulation 23 will apply, allowing the destruction of documents within one year from the date of filing.
Article 23 mandates that all documents approved for destruction must first be scanned and archived in a manner that prevents duplication or recovery. The responsibility for ensuring proper scanning lies with both the Professional Standards Command and the Administrative Department overseeing police records.
The amendment came into force on the day it was gazetted and is part of broader efforts to streamline record management within law enforcement agencies.