The Mauritius Police Force (MPF) is the national law enforcement agency of Mauritius. The MPF carries out police, security, and military functions on Mauritius, with about 12,500 police officers under the command of the Commissioner of Police. The MPF is part of the Home Affairs Division, which operates under the aegis of the Prime Minister's Office.[1][2]
Military advisers from India and the United Kingdom work with the Special Mobile Force, the National Coast Guard, and the Police Helicopter Squadron, and Mauritian police officers are trained in India, the United Kingdom, and France. India and the United States provide training to National Coast Guard officers in such fields as seamanship and maritime law enforcement.
Branches
Anti Drug and Smuggling Unit
The Anti Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU) is the narcotics and anti-smuggling unit of the MPF. It ensures the legal repression of drugs proliferation in Mauritius and the Outer Islands.[3]
Anti Robbery Squad
The Anti Robbery Squad (ARS) was a dedicated unit of the MPF that combats robbery crimes.
In 2015, then-Commissioner of Police (CP) Mario Nobin created the ARS to replace the defunct Rottweilers SSU. CP Nobin appointed Inspector Seewoo to head the ARS in 2017. But Seewoo's promotion to Chief Inspector raised concerns amongst his colleagues.[why?] By 2020 the new commissioner of police Servansingh transferred Seewoo to Pointe-aux-Cannonniers before dismantling the ARS.[4][5][6]
National Coast Guard
The National Coast Guard (NCG) is the coast guard of Mauritius. It was established in 1988 and consists of No. 1 Patrol Vessel Squadron and the Maritime Air Squadron.[7]
The NCG has been modernising its fleet introducing a Kora-class Offshore Patrol Vessel CGS Barracuda in 2015, two Sarojini Naidu-class patrol vessels CGS Victory in 2016 and CGS Valiant in 2017 and ten 14.5m GSL Fast Interceptor Boats in 2016.[8][9][10]
The Maritime Air Squadron (MAS) was established in 1990 and operates a fixed wing fleet of three HAL Dornier 228 and one Britten-Norman Defender BN-2T for search-and-rescue missions and surveillance of territorial waters.[11] The Defender entered service in 1992, the first Dornier 228 entered service in 1990, the second in 2004 and third in 2016.[11] The Do 288 can be fitted with 7.62mmgun pods.[12]
In March 1990 one radar equipped HAL Dornier 228 was ordered from India to form a maritime surveillance element by July 1991. This aircraft was reinforced in 1992 by a single twin turbo prop BN-2T Maritime Defender for coastal patrol work. A second HAL Dornier 228 was added to the fleet in 2004 and a third in 2016.[17][18][19]
The National Security Service (NSS) is responsible for the national security of Mauritius. It was formerly known as the National Intelligence Unit (NIU) and State Security Service (SSS).[22] During British rule it was known as Special Branch. [23]
The Police Helicopter Squadron (PHS) is the police aviation unit of the MPF. Established in 1974, its main roles are search and rescue and casualty evacuation both inland and at sea; combatting gandia cultivation; traffic patrol and escort of convoys; and VIP transport.[24][25]
The helicopter fleet consists of four HAL Chetak, one Eurocopter Fennec AS555 and Two HAL Dhruv.[24][26] The Dhruv helicopter entered service in 2009[27] followed by MK.3 variant in 2023.[28] Two refurbished Chetak helicopters were gifted by India in 2016.[9][29]
Mauritius does not have a standing army; the Special Mobile Force (SMF) is a paramilitary force that fills that role. It was established in 1960 following the withdrawal of two companies of the British East African land forces.[31][32] The SMF recruited World War II veterans and select police officers and was commanded by British commanders until 1978.[31]
The 1,500-member Special Mobile Force (SMF) and the 500-member National Coast Guard are the only two paramilitary units in Mauritius. Both units are composed of police officers on lengthy rotations to those services.[17][18][19]
The SMF is a motorized infantry battalion with five companies, an engineering squadron, and a mobile wing comprising two squadrons equipped with armored vehicles.[31] The SMF training is based on conventional military tactics focused on internal security.[31] It engages extensively in civic works projects.
The Special Support Unit (SSU) is the riot police unit of the MPF. It was established in 1986.[35] The SSU consists of five operational units and a training wing.[35]
Police Band
The Police Band is the official musical group of the MPF. It can operate as a military band, a marching band, a string orchestra, and a contemporary pop group.[36] One of its alumni was Joseph Philippe Gentil, a composer best known for composing Motherland, the national anthem of Mauritius.[37] On Independence Day 1968, a national newspaper mistakenly published the name and photograph of Philippe Oh San (the Police Band's maestro at the time) as the anthem's composer, with the remaining newspapers being reprinted with the correction.[38]
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