Police (Amendment) Bill: Navin Ramgoolam Aims to Restore Trust in the Police
Title: Police (Amendment) Bill: Navin Ramgoolam Aims to Restore Trust in the Police
Content: On November 11, 2025, Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam presented the Police (Amendment) Bill to the National Assembly, aimed at modernizing the police force, restoring public trust, and addressing institutional flaws inherited from previous governments.
During the second reading of the Police (Amendment) Bill (No. 27 of 2025), Ramgoolam delivered what was termed a "historic and urgent" speech. He stated that the bill seeks to "redefine the police force's capabilities, restore public confidence, and rectify systemic failures" that have long obstructed proper police investigations and the delivery of justice in Mauritius.
The Prime Minister noted that the Police Act of 1974, a cornerstone of law enforcement for over fifty years, is no longer suited to today’s realities. "Crime has evolved. Modern offenses—whether drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, or cybercrime—are now transnational and sophisticated. Lacking modern tools, our police are at a disadvantage against these threats," he explained.
Ramgoolam emphasized that current legislation does not allow the police commissioner to enlist foreign experts in complex investigations. This limitation, he said, has hindered the resolution of several major cases, including those of Soopramanien Kistnen and Nadine Dantier. "These cases require specialized skills in digital forensics, communications technology, or financial analysis, which are not always available locally," he insisted.
Regarding the Kistnen case, Ramgoolam was particularly critical of the former administration. "Under the previous government, this investigation was manipulated and diverted from the truth. What was a murder was presented as a suicide. Without the electoral verdict, this truth would have remained buried," he stated, adding that the magistrate overseeing the judicial inquiry had criticized the lack of professionalism and competence among certain police officers at that time.
The Prime Minister asserted that his government is committed to "correcting these errors" and conducting "transparent, professional, and lawful investigations." The bill proposes an amendment to Article 22 of the Police Act to allow the police commissioner to hire "foreign specialized investigative officers" in serious or complex criminal cases. These officers will operate under the direct supervision of the commissioner or a designated officer, without arrest authority.
Their recruitment will be limited to former members of foreign law enforcement agencies with recognized expertise in the relevant field. "Victims do not care about the nationality of those delivering justice; they simply demand the truth," said the Prime Minister, believing that this reform will empower families and citizens to "finally obtain the justice they deserve."
Continuity of the FCC Act
Navin Ramgoolam also placed this reform within a broader perspective of institutional transformation. He recalled that the modernization of the legal framework aligns with recent amendments to the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) Act 2023, which restored the central role of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and corrected the "deliberately introduced gaps" by the previous government.
"We have restored coherence and rigor in prosecutions. No one, no matter how powerful, is above the law," he asserted.
The Prime Minister condemned the past management of complex financial cases, often "delayed, poorly managed, or willfully left pending," creating what he termed "a culture of impunity." The reforms undertaken aim, he said, to "close the gaps" and "make our institutions worthy of public trust once again."
Repairing Past Failures
Navin Ramgoolam emphasized that this bill is "not just a technical adjustment" but "a structural and moral correction." "We are addressing the failures of the past and sending a clear message: Mauritius will no longer tolerate inefficiency or institutional manipulation. Justice will be served, and the rule of law will be upheld," he maintained.
The text, he continued, forms part of the government program for 2025-2029, which aims to modernize institutions and enhance the investigative capacity of law enforcement. "This law will facilitate solving unsolved cases, restore institutional rigor, and reposition Mauritius among countries where justice is independent, impartial, and swift," he highlighted.
