Madam Speaker, with your permission, I will reply to Parliamentary Questions B/529, B/530, and B/538 together as they relate to the same subject matter. I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that all Police Stations, including that of Moka, Saint Pierre, and Quartier Militaire are equipped with essential IT equipment such as Personal Computers for the use of the Crime Occurrence Tracking System (COTS) and Terminals for the access to the Criminal Attribute Database (CADB), footages of Safe City and CCTV systems. With regard to Personal Computers, they are replaced and upgraded as and when required. An average of 200 new PC units are procured each year to support and replace hardware across the Police Service. The Crime Occurrence Tracking System (COTS), which is a digital platform connecting all Police Stations to the main server at the Police Headquarters, is used for the management and tracking of complaints and declarations, from initial reporting to final case disposal. It has been operational since 2011. Madam Speaker, I am informed that while the system has been enhanced, it has never been upgraded. The Police have initiated action to replace the COTS entirely with a modern, high-performance case management system, and it is expected that this system will be

13 compatible with the latest technologies, offer faster processing, user-friendliness, and higher storage capacity. The Central Informatics Bureau is working closely with the Police on this project and has advised that the services of a special consultant be retained. This process is underway. As regards the access to the Criminal Attribute Database (CADB) in the Police Stations, I am informed that it has not been upgraded since its implementation in 1999. An amount of Rs43 million has been provided in the Budget for this financial year for a fully integrated, modernised system, which will include a new version of the CADB that can handle criminal records and identity verification using biometric data. The tenders will be launched by the end of August of this year and is expected to be operational within the next two years. Madam Speaker, with regard to the IT infrastructure for CCTV and the Safe City Systems, both are on a lease agreement with Brinks Ltd and Mauritius Telecoms, respectively, which caters for maintenance and software and hardware upgrade as well. The technological upgrade for the CCTV cameras is presently being undertaken by Brinks Ltd. As for the Safe City camera systems, according to the lease agreement, a technology refresh is due in December 2025. Madam Speaker, this is the legacy left by the previous Government: outdated systems, under-equipped stations, and a Police Force left behind in the digital age. We are now moving from a decade of neglect to an era of progress and reform. As clearly stated in the Government Programme 2025-2029, digital transformation of Mauritius will be one of the major reforms to be undertaken. In this respect, as announced in the Budget Speech, we are coming shortly with a Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Act which will be aligned with international standards. A Cybersecurity Operation Centre will be set up based on the UK model. Madam Speaker, Government will continue to invest in a Police Force that is digitally enabled, secure, and ready for the future. This is the kind of bold, forward-looking reform that the Police Force has long needed and my Government has pledged to deliver.

Thank you.

14 ST PIERRE POLICE STATION – IT INFRASTRUCTURE & OPERATING SYSTEM – REFORMS & UDGRADES