67. Remand and convicted detainees are located in different association yards and residential
blocks/dormitories. In view of an increase in remand population, the Beau-Bassin Prison is in the
process of being converted into a remand detention centre.
68. In 2018, the Judicial and Legal Provisions Act was amended. It provides that that a person
sentenced to a term of imprisonment or penal servitude shall, subject to certain conditions, be given
full credit for the time he has spent in custody by deducting that time from the term of
imprisonment or penal servitude imposed.
69. In order to reduce the pre-trial detention period, a template has been designed since
December 2016, enabling remand detainees who wish voluntarily to plead guilty, to directly
inform the concerned authorities (Office to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Police,
amongst others) by filling the form. Some 695 applications from detainees have been processed
up to October 2018, out of which 406 have been disposed.
70. The Police and Criminal Evidence Bill addresses inter-alia the abusiveness and arbitrariness
of the present system of “provisional charges” is yet to be introduced in the National Assembly. It
will further provide for the enforcement of the rights of victims and witnesses. It seeks to bring
together, in one enactment, provisions which relate to the exercise by police officers of the power
to stop, enter, search, seize, arrest, and detain; to set a time limit for the detention of persons on
remand/ awaiting trial, so as to better guarantee the citizen’s human rights and fundamental
freedoms provided for in the Constitution of Mauritius.
71. A total of 744 cameras have been installed in seventy-eight (78) Police Stations/Posts and
the CCID in Mauritius. They are all fully operational since May 2018. The police have sensitized
153,758 persons for crime prevention, road safety, drug-related offenses, domestic violence,
juvenile crimes, child protection, proximity police during the period. The ‘148’ hotline has been
reorganized and a Facebook account has been created to encourage the public to inform the police
of any doubtful activities.
72. Security has been reinforced at the harbour and airport. The high seas patrol has been
reinforced with the procurement of 3 Patrol ships with the latest technology (CGS Baracuda on 2
August 2013, CGS Victory on 10 December 2016 and CGS Valiant on 16 August 2017).
73. With the coming into force of the DNA Identification Act and in a bid to reducing over
reliance on confession, the MPF is harnessing on scientific evidence for the detection of crimes.
The examination of the crime scene for the collection of scientific evidence and DNA Evidence is
of a great importance for efficient and effective investigation. The Forensic Science Laboratory
(FSL), custodian of the Mauritian DNA Data Records (as per section 10 of the DNA Identification
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