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 (CP). The MPF is part of the Home Affairs Division, which operates under the aegis of the Prime Minister's Office.
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 is responsible for preventing smuggling and illegal drug distribution in Mauritius and the Outer Islands.
Police Bike Patrol Unit The Police Bike Patrol Unit is the police bicycle unit of the MPF. It is primarily responsible for conducting patrols on bicycles with the goals of community policing, providing greater police presence, and patrolling areas not accessible to police vehicles.
Anti Robbery Squad The Anti Robbery Squad (ARS), nicknamed the "Rottweilers", was a dedicated unit of the MPF tasked with combatting robbery crimes and supporting the Criminal Investigation Division. It was established in 2015 by then-CP Mario Nobin to replace the defunct Rottweilers SSU.
In 2017, CP Nobin appointed Inspector Seewoo, reported to be a close associate of Nobin, to head the ARS; in 2020, he was promoted to Chief Inspector, causing controversy due to "alleged irregularities" in his promotion. In 2020, CP Khemraj Servansingh transferred Seewoo to the Pointe-aux-Cannonniers police station and dismantled the ARS.
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.
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.
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. The Defender entered service in 1992, the first Dornier 228 entered service in 1990, the second in 2004 and third in 2016. The Do 288 can be fitted with 7.62mm gun pods.
The NCG has a maritime tactical unit established in 2010 the Commando Unit or Commandos Special Force. The Commando Unit trains with the Indian Navy's MARCOS and the French Army's 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (2e RPIMa), based in Réunion as part of FAZSOI.
Vessels
ShipOriginTypeIn serviceClassNotesCGS Barracuda Patrol boat1 Kora-class corvette CGS Valiant Patrol boat2 Sarojini Naidu-class patrol vessel CGS Victory CGS Guardian Patrol boat1 Seaward-class patrol vessel CGS Observer1AMPL (P-2000)-class interceptor boat
Aircraft
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.
AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes Maritime patrol Dornier 228maritime patrol 3 BN-2T Defender maritime patrol1
National Security Service 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). During British rule, it was known as the Special Branch. There is a National Security Advisor who is an Indian national.
Police Helicopter Squadron
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 patrols, convoy escorts, and VIP transport.
The helicopter fleet consists of four HAL Chetaks, one Eurocopter Fennec AS555 and three HAL Dhruvs. The Dhruv helicopter entered service in 2009 followed by the MK.3 variant in 2023. Two refurbished Chetak helicopters were gifted by India in 2016.
AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes Helicopter HAL Dhruv utility MK.1 and MK.3 3 HAL Chetak SAR / utility SA316B4 AS555 utility AS555 SN 1
Special Mobile Force The Special Mobile Force (SMF) is the paramilitary force of the MPF and the de facto military of Mauritius. It was established in 1960 following the withdrawal of two companies of the British King's African Rifles. The SMF recruited World War II veterans and select police officers and was led by British commanders until 1978.
The 1,500-member 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.IISS Military Balance 2007IISS Military Balance 2010World Aircraft Information Files; Brightstar Publishing; File 331, Sheet 4
The SMF is a motorized infantry battalion with five companies, an engineering squadron, and a mobile wing comprising two squadrons equipped with armored vehicles. The SMF training is based on conventional military tactics focused on internal security. It engages extensively in civic works projects.
The SMF has a police tactical unit established in 1979, the Groupement d’Intervention de la Police Mauricienne (GIPM) (). The GIPM trains with the French National Gendarmerie's Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale (GIGN) and the French Army's 2e RPIMa.
Special Support Unit The Special Support Unit (SSU) is the riot police and reserve unit of the MPF. It was established in 1986. The SSU consists of five operational units and a training wing.
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. One of its alumni was Joseph Philippe Gentil, a composer best known for composing Motherland, the national anthem of Mauritius. 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.
Ranks Mauritius Police Ranks and InsigniaRankCommissionerDeputy CommissionerAssistant CommissionerSuperintendentAssistant SuperintendentDeputy Assistant SuperintendentEpaulette InsigniaRankChief InspectorInspectorCadet OfficerSergeantCorporalConstableEpaulette Insignia
Small arms NameOriginTypeVariantNotesGlock 17Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). .Austria Semi-automatic pistolFN P90BelgiumPersonal defense weapon M16 United StatesAssault rifle M16A2 SIG SG 550Gander, Terry J.; Hogg, Ian V. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 21 edition (May 2009). . SwitzerlandAssault rifle Heckler & Koch G36 GermanyAssault rifle Heckler & Koch MP5Germany Submachine gunFN FAL Belgium Battle rifle FN MAG Belgium Machine gun FN SCARBelgiumAssault rifleSCAR-LCZ Scorpion Evo 3Czech RepublicCarbine
See also GRSE Mauritius offshore patrol vessel Mandovi Marine (15 meter)-class patrol craft Praga-class patrol boat
References
External links Mauritius Police Force website Uniform Insignia Mauritius Police Force