Maldives Police Aptitude Test study materials
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Maldives Police Aptitude Test practice questions

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Question 1Community Policing and Public Trust

In community policing, what does the term 'community partnership' primarily require of police officers?

  1. Keeping operational plans confidential from the public at all times
  2. Handing over all law enforcement authority to community committees
  3. Patrolling only when residents formally request it in writing
  4. Sharing information and decision-making with residents and local organisations Correct answer.

Explanation

Community partnership means the police and the community work together as co-producers of safety, which requires sharing information, listening to residents, and involving them in setting priorities. It does not transfer police legal authority or make policing reactive.

Question 2Community Policing and Public Trust

Which activity best illustrates 'problem-oriented policing' in a Maldivian neighbourhood?

  1. Analysing repeat thefts at a harbour and addressing their underlying causes Correct answer.
  2. Rotating officers between islands on a fixed schedule
  3. Publishing monthly crime statistics without further action
  4. Increasing arrest quotas for street-level offences

Explanation

Problem-oriented policing identifies recurring problems, analyses their root causes, and designs tailored responses rather than simply reacting to individual incidents. Analysing repeat thefts and addressing causes reflects that scanning-and-analysis cycle.

Question 3Community Policing and Public Trust

What is the main purpose of a community policing forum held on a local island?

  1. To replace formal criminal investigations with public voting
  2. To collect fines directly from attendees
  3. To record confessions from suspects without legal safeguards
  4. To build dialogue and trust between police and residents on safety concerns Correct answer.

Explanation

Community forums create two-way communication where residents raise concerns and police explain priorities, which builds trust and legitimacy. They are not investigative or judicial mechanisms.

Question 4Community Policing and Public Trust

Procedural justice research suggests public trust in police rises most when officers behave in which way?

  1. Using force early to demonstrate authority
  2. Avoiding contact with residents except during emergencies
  3. Treating people with dignity and explaining decisions fairly Correct answer.
  4. Issuing the maximum penalty for every minor infraction

Explanation

Procedural justice emphasises fair process: voice, neutrality, respect, and trustworthy motives. People accept police authority more readily when they feel treated with dignity and given explanations, regardless of the outcome.

Question 5Community Policing and Public Trust

A resident reports a neighbour's loud late-night gatherings repeatedly. Which response best reflects community-oriented policing?

  1. Ignore the reports until a formal written complaint is filed
  2. Arrest all attendees immediately without inquiry
  3. Mediate between the neighbours and address the recurring disturbance with follow-up Correct answer.
  4. Advise the resident to move to another neighbourhood

Explanation

Community-oriented policing favours resolving recurring disputes through mediation and follow-up rather than pure enforcement or inaction. Addressing the underlying conflict reduces repeat calls and builds trust.

Question 6Community Policing and Public Trust

Which indicator most directly measures public trust in the police rather than police activity?

  1. Number of patrol hours logged per week
  2. Number of vehicles in the police fleet
  3. Frequency of internal training sessions
  4. Residents' willingness to report crimes and cooperate as witnesses Correct answer.

Explanation

Trust is reflected in public behaviour such as willingness to report crime and cooperate with investigations. Patrol hours, fleet size, and training frequency are inputs or outputs of police activity, not measures of public confidence.

Question 7Community Policing and Public Trust

What does 'police legitimacy' mean in the community policing context?

  1. The size of the police budget approved by the state
  2. The legal power of police to detain without cause
  3. The number of officers assigned to an island
  4. The public's belief that police authority is rightful and should be accepted Correct answer.

Explanation

Legitimacy is a social belief that police authority is morally justified and entitled to be obeyed. It is distinct from formal legal powers, budgets, or staffing levels, and it underpins voluntary cooperation.

Question 8Community Policing and Public Trust

An officer on patrol notices a group of youths loitering near a school gate each afternoon. Applying community policing principles, what is the most appropriate first step?

  1. Issue formal warnings to all youths immediately
  2. Request that the school install higher fences without discussion
  3. Refer the matter only to prosecutors
  4. Engage the youths and school staff to understand and address the situation Correct answer.

Explanation

Community policing begins with engagement and understanding before enforcement. Talking with youths and school staff identifies whether there is a real problem and allows a proportionate, collaborative response.

Question 9Community Policing and Public Trust

Which practice most undermines public trust in a community policing programme?

  1. Officers learning local language and customs
  2. Regular public reporting of police activities
  3. Selective enforcement based on personal relationships Correct answer.
  4. Consistent, fair enforcement of the law

Explanation

Selective enforcement driven by favouritism signals unfairness and erodes legitimacy, because residents perceive the police as biased rather than neutral. Consistent enforcement, transparency, and cultural competence all support trust.

Question 10Community Policing and Public Trust

In the SARA model of problem solving, what does the 'Assessment' stage involve?

  1. Evaluating whether the response reduced the problem and adjusting if needed Correct answer.
  2. Scanning the neighbourhood for new problems
  3. Analysing the problem's causes before acting
  4. Responding to the problem with enforcement only

Explanation

SARA stands for Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment. Assessment is the final stage where police evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen response and decide whether to modify or continue it.

Question 11Community Policing and Public Trust

A community policing officer wants to increase reporting of domestic violence in a conservative neighbourhood. Which approach is most consistent with best practice?

  1. Publicly naming victims to encourage others
  2. Requiring victims to report in front of community elders
  3. Building confidential referral channels with trusted community figures and support services Correct answer.
  4. Discouraging reports to preserve family reputation

Explanation

Sensitive crimes require confidentiality and trusted pathways to encourage reporting while protecting victims. Partnering with community figures and support services builds confidence without exposing victims to stigma or danger.

Question 12Community Policing and Public Trust

What role does 'community policing' assign to residents in crime prevention?

  1. Independent investigators with arrest powers
  2. Passive recipients of police protection only
  3. Active partners who share information and participate in prevention efforts Correct answer.
  4. Judges of whether offences should be prosecuted

Explanation

Community policing treats residents as active partners who provide information, participate in neighbourhood watch and prevention, and help set priorities. They do not acquire police powers or judicial functions.

Question 13Community Policing and Public Trust

An officer is assigned to a new island and wants to establish trust quickly. Which action is most effective?

  1. Limit interactions to official complaints only
  2. Keep a distance to appear authoritative
  3. Announce strict enforcement targets at the first meeting
  4. Spend time meeting residents, listening to concerns, and being visible and approachable Correct answer.

Explanation

Trust is built through repeated, respectful contact and visible presence. Listening to concerns and being approachable demonstrates that police are part of the community rather than an occupying force.

Question 14Community Policing and Public Trust

Which statement best describes the relationship between procedural justice and compliance with the law?

  1. People comply more when they perceive police as fair and legitimate Correct answer.
  2. Compliance is unrelated to how police treat people
  3. People comply mainly because of fear of severe punishment
  4. Compliance depends only on the number of officers deployed

Explanation

Procedural justice theory holds that fair treatment and perceived legitimacy encourage voluntary compliance and cooperation. Fear and staffing are factors, but they do not capture the trust-based relationship central to community policing.

Question 15Community Policing and Public Trust

What is a key benefit of police officers learning local customs and languages in the Maldives?

  1. It guarantees that crime will stop entirely
  2. It allows officers to bypass formal legal procedures
  3. It removes the need for written reports
  4. It improves communication, cultural sensitivity, and community cooperation Correct answer.

Explanation

Cultural and linguistic competence improves communication and signals respect, which strengthens cooperation and reduces misunderstanding. It does not override legal procedures or eliminate the need for documentation.

Question 16Community Policing and Public Trust

A police unit wants to reduce repeat burglaries in a mixed residential area. Which measure best reflects an intelligence-led, community-oriented approach?

  1. Reducing patrols to save resources
  2. Analysing burglary patterns and coordinating with residents on target-hardening and awareness Correct answer.
  3. Arresting all residents of the affected street
  4. Random patrols with no data analysis

Explanation

Intelligence-led community policing uses data to identify patterns and then works with residents on prevention measures such as target-hardening and awareness. It is evidence-based and collaborative rather than random or indiscriminate.

Question 17Community Policing and Public Trust

Which factor is most likely to reduce residents' willingness to cooperate with police in a small island community?

  1. A perception that police protect only influential families Correct answer.
  2. Consistent and transparent communication
  3. Visible community engagement activities
  4. Officers responding respectfully and promptly

Explanation

Perceived favouritism or protection of elites signals bias and destroys the sense of fairness on which cooperation depends. Respectful, consistent, and transparent behaviour all support cooperation.

Question 18Community Policing and Public Trust

What is the primary aim of a neighbourhood watch programme supported by police?

  1. To collect evidence using police powers
  2. To give residents authority to detain suspects
  3. To replace police patrols entirely
  4. To encourage residents to observe, report, and prevent crime collaboratively with police Correct answer.

Explanation

Neighbourhood watch encourages residents to observe, report suspicious activity, and take part in prevention alongside police. Residents do not gain police powers or replace formal patrols.

Question 19Community Policing and Public Trust

An officer responds to a complaint and finds two neighbours in a heated argument over a shared water pipe. What is the most appropriate community policing response?

  1. Leave without taking any action
  2. Calm the parties, listen to both, and facilitate a resolution or refer to mediation Correct answer.
  3. Side with the neighbour who filed the complaint
  4. Arrest both to end the dispute quickly

Explanation

Community policing favours de-escalation and fair mediation of disputes, giving both parties a voice before considering enforcement. This addresses the underlying conflict and reduces repeat calls.

Question 20Community Policing and Public Trust

Which statement best explains why transparency in police decision-making supports public trust?

  1. It eliminates the possibility of error
  2. It removes the need for courts and prosecutors
  3. It lets residents predict and understand how and why decisions are made Correct answer.
  4. It guarantees that all residents will agree with police decisions

Explanation

Transparency allows residents to understand the reasoning behind police decisions, which supports perceived fairness and accountability. It does not remove judicial processes, guarantee agreement, or prevent all mistakes.

Question 21Community Policing and Public Trust

In the context of community policing, what does 'co-production of safety' mean?

  1. Private security firms replace the police
  2. Police and the public jointly contribute to safety through shared responsibility Correct answer.
  3. Safety is produced only by legislation
  4. Police alone produce all public safety outcomes

Explanation

Co-production recognises that safety results from joint effort between police and residents, each contributing information, action, and responsibility. It does not mean police act alone or that private firms or laws replace policing.

Question 22Community Policing and Public Trust

An officer uses stop-and-search powers disproportionately against a particular ethnic group. Which principle of community policing is most directly violated?

  1. Speed of response to incidents
  2. Accuracy of crime statistics
  3. Fairness and legitimacy in the exercise of police powers Correct answer.
  4. Efficiency of resource allocation

Explanation

Disproportionate targeting based on ethnicity violates fairness and neutrality, damaging legitimacy and trust. Efficiency, response speed, and statistics accuracy are separate concerns not primarily at issue here.

Question 23Community Policing and Public Trust

A community policing officer must prioritise limited resources across several complaints. Which approach best reflects a defensible, trust-building method?

  1. Respond to the loudest complainants first regardless of risk
  2. Ignore all complaints until a formal review occurs
  3. Assess risk and harm, consult the community, and explain the prioritisation transparently Correct answer.
  4. Prioritise cases involving influential residents

Explanation

Prioritisation should be based on risk and harm and should be explained transparently so residents understand the reasoning, which preserves fairness perceptions. Responding to volume or influence undermines legitimacy.

Question 24Community Policing and Public Trust

Which combination best characterises the community policing philosophy?

  1. Strict isolation from residents and reliance on force
  2. Random patrols and no data analysis
  3. Reactive response, centralised control, and minimal public contact
  4. Proactive prevention, community partnership, and problem solving Correct answer.

Explanation

Community policing is commonly described as proactive prevention, partnership with the community, and systematic problem solving. Reactive, isolated, or random approaches are the models it seeks to replace.

Question 25Community Policing and Public Trust

An officer wants to evaluate whether a new community engagement initiative improved trust. Which method is most appropriate?

  1. Measure the number of officers assigned
  2. Rely on the officer's personal impression alone
  3. Compare resident surveys and reporting rates before and after the initiative Correct answer.
  4. Count the number of meetings held only

Explanation

Evaluating trust requires measuring public perceptions and behaviour, such as survey responses and reporting rates, before and after the initiative. Activity counts and personal impressions do not capture trust changes.

Question 26Community Policing and Public Trust

A police station in Malé begins publishing a monthly public summary of the complaints it received, how each was resolved, and the reasons for any decision not to act. Which outcome does this practice most directly support within community policing?

  1. Reduced need for officers to patrol neighbourhoods
  2. Faster clearance of criminal cases through better evidence handling
  3. Higher conviction rates in contested court proceedings
  4. Accountability to the community through visible decision-making Correct answer.

Explanation

Publishing complaint outcomes and reasons lets residents see how police exercise discretion, which is the core of accountability in community policing. It builds trust by making decisions open to scrutiny rather than by improving investigative or court outcomes.

Question 27Community Policing and Public Trust

Under the SARA model, an officer scans a neighbourhood, analyses a recurring dispute, and designs a response. Which activity belongs specifically to the 'Response' stage?

  1. Collecting baseline data on how often the problem occurs
  2. Checking whether the problem declined after the intervention
  3. Defining the boundaries of the problem in time and place
  4. Selecting and implementing interventions aimed at the underlying causes Correct answer.

Explanation

The Response stage is where police and partners choose and carry out interventions that address the analysed causes of the problem. Scanning defines the problem, analysis explains it, and assessment later checks whether the response worked.

Question 28Community Policing and Public Trust

A police commander wants residents of an atoll community to help identify local safety priorities before the next patrol plan is written. Which mechanism best reflects the community policing principle of shared priority-setting?

  1. Assigning officers to patrol only the areas with the highest reported crime counts
  2. Holding an open consultation where residents rank local safety concerns Correct answer.
  3. Issuing a directive listing the crimes the commander considers most serious
  4. Waiting for residents to file formal complaints before any planning begins

Explanation

Community policing treats residents as partners in identifying problems, so an open consultation that lets them rank concerns operationalises shared priority-setting. It gives the community real influence over the patrol plan rather than merely informing them of decisions already made.

Question 29Community Policing and Public Trust

An officer is mediating a dispute between two families over noise from a late-night gathering. Which behaviour best demonstrates procedural justice in this interaction?

  1. Ending the discussion quickly so the officer can return to patrol
  2. Warning the louder family that further complaints will lead to arrest
  3. Telling both families that the matter will be settled by whatever the officer decides
  4. Explaining the applicable rules and giving each family a chance to be heard before deciding Correct answer.

Explanation

Procedural justice centres on voice, neutrality, respect and trustworthy motives, so explaining the rules and hearing both sides before deciding embodies it. Residents accept outcomes more readily when they believe the process was fair, even if they dislike the result.

Question 30Community Policing and Public Trust

A newly posted officer on a small island learns that a respected elder mediates most local disputes. What is the most appropriate community policing action?

  1. Instruct the elder to stop mediating and refer all disputes to the police station
  2. Build a cooperative relationship with the elder while retaining police responsibility for formal matters Correct answer.
  3. Publicly criticise the elder's methods to assert police authority
  4. Ignore the elder's role because informal mediation is outside police concern

Explanation

Community policing works with existing informal structures of social control rather than displacing them, so cooperating with a trusted elder extends reach and legitimacy. Police still handle formal and legal matters, keeping the partnership complementary rather than a handover of authority.

Question 31Community Policing and Public Trust

Which situation is the clearest example of 'co-production of safety' between police and residents?

  1. Police patrol a market alone and report the results to a residents' committee afterwards
  2. Police publish a crime statistics leaflet for residents to read
  3. A residents' group complains to the police about slow response times
  4. Residents and police jointly design and run a late-night lighting and escort scheme for the market Correct answer.

Explanation

Co-production means police and the public contribute jointly to safety rather than the public merely receiving a service or giving feedback. Jointly designing and running a scheme makes residents active partners in producing the outcome.

Question 32Community Policing and Public Trust

A neighbourhood has seen several bicycle thefts from a communal compound. Applying an intelligence-led approach, which first step is most appropriate?

  1. Waiting until more thefts occur so a clearer pattern emerges
  2. Increasing random patrols across the whole island without further analysis
  3. Posting a general warning without collecting further information
  4. Analysing the timing, location and method of the thefts to target prevention Correct answer.

Explanation

Intelligence-led policing uses analysis of patterns to direct resources where they will have most effect, so examining timing, location and method comes first. The findings then guide targeted prevention such as lighting, access control or focused patrol.

Question 33Community Policing and Public Trust

A survey finds that residents of one district trust police less than residents elsewhere, despite similar crime rates. Which explanation is most consistent with community policing theory?

  1. Trust reflects the number of officers stationed in the district
  2. Trust depends mainly on the district's recorded crime rate
  3. Trust is fixed by national policing budgets and cannot change locally
  4. Trust is shaped by residents' experiences of how police treat people, including respect and fairness Correct answer.

Explanation

Community policing theory holds that legitimacy and trust are built through the quality of interactions, especially respectful and fair treatment, not solely through crime levels. Similar crime rates with different trust levels point to differences in how policing is experienced.

Question 34Community Policing and Public Trust

An officer wants residents to report suspicious activity more readily. Which action best supports this goal in a community where people fear being seen as informants?

  1. Promising absolute secrecy for every report regardless of legal duties
  2. Asking residents to report only crimes they have personally witnessed
  3. Explaining how reports are handled, protecting identities where possible, and showing how reports led to prevention Correct answer.
  4. Requiring residents to give their names publicly at community meetings

Explanation

Willingness to report grows when people understand what happens to their information and see that reporting produces results. Explaining handling and protecting identity where lawful addresses the fear of exposure while remaining honest about legal limits.

Question 35Community Policing and Public Trust

A police team runs a school-based programme teaching children about personal safety and how to contact police. Which long-term community policing benefit is most directly supported?

  1. Immediate reduction in adult crime rates across the island
  2. Guaranteed increases in the number of officers recruited locally
  3. Early positive contact that builds familiarity and trust with police Correct answer.
  4. Faster processing of criminal cases involving juveniles

Explanation

School programmes create early, positive encounters that normalise police as approachable figures, which is a core trust-building aim of community policing. The benefit is relational and cumulative rather than an immediate crime or recruitment effect.

Question 36Community Policing and Public Trust

A community policing officer is told that a local council meeting will discuss a proposed curfew for young people. What is the most appropriate police role?

  1. Refuse to attend because policy is not a police matter
  2. Attend, present relevant evidence, and contribute to discussion without dictating the outcome Correct answer.
  3. Demand that the council adopt the curfew without debate
  4. Attend only to record the names of residents who oppose the curfew

Explanation

Community policing positions police as partners who contribute evidence and expertise to public deliberation while respecting the community's decision-making role. Dictating or surveilling opponents undermines the partnership and trust the role depends on.

Question 37Community Policing and Public Trust

Which indicator best reflects residents' willingness to engage with police rather than the volume of police activity?

  1. Number of arrests made in the district
  2. Proportion of residents who say they would contact police if they had a safety concern Correct answer.
  3. Number of patrol hours logged per week
  4. Number of vehicles stopped at checkpoints

Explanation

Willingness to contact police measures the public's disposition toward police, which is a trust and engagement indicator. Patrol hours, arrests and stops measure what police do, not how the community feels about them.

Question 38Community Policing and Public Trust

A police post receives repeated complaints about the same abandoned building being used for drug activity. Which response best reflects a problem-oriented rather than incident-oriented approach?

  1. Advise residents to stop reporting until a crime is witnessed
  2. Increase the number of complaint forms available at the post
  3. Attend each complaint, disperse anyone present, and close the file
  4. Work with the owner and local authorities to secure or repurpose the building Correct answer.

Explanation

Problem-oriented policing addresses the underlying conditions that generate repeat incidents, so securing or repurposing the building targets the cause. Dispersing people at each call treats symptoms and the problem recurs.

Question 39Community Policing and Public Trust

During a community meeting, several residents accuse police of ignoring their area. Which response best demonstrates the community policing value of responsiveness?

  1. Acknowledge the concern, explain current constraints, and agree specific follow-up actions with a review date Correct answer.
  2. Explain that crime data show the area is not a priority
  3. End the meeting and invite residents to submit written complaints instead
  4. Promise that every concern will be fully resolved within a week

Explanation

Responsiveness means taking concerns seriously, being honest about constraints, and committing to concrete, reviewable action. This builds trust through accountability rather than through dismissal or unrealistic promises.

Question 40Community Policing and Public Trust

An officer is deciding how to allocate limited community engagement time among several neighbourhoods. Which approach best reflects the principles of equity and need in community policing?

  1. Prioritise neighbourhoods with the greatest need and least access, while maintaining a baseline presence elsewhere Correct answer.
  2. Allocate time according to the officer's personal preference
  3. Spend equal time everywhere regardless of reported concerns or vulnerability
  4. Focus only on the neighbourhoods that complain most loudly

Explanation

Equity in community policing means directing more effort where need and barriers to access are greatest, while keeping a baseline presence so no area is abandoned. This balances fairness with effective use of limited resources.

Question 41Cyber Safety and Digital Security

A person in Malé receives a text claiming to be from their bank asking them to confirm their PIN via a link. What is the safest immediate action?

  1. Reply to the message asking for proof of identity
  2. Forward the message to friends to ask if they received it too
  3. Enter the PIN on the linked page to check whether it is genuine
  4. Ignore the link and contact the bank through its official published number Correct answer.

Explanation

Messages that pressure you to reveal a PIN through a link are a classic phishing technique. A legitimate bank never asks for a PIN by SMS link, so the safe response is to ignore the link and verify using an official channel you already trust, such as the number printed on your card or the bank's official website.

Question 42Cyber Safety and Digital Security

Which password best resists guessing by automated tools?

  1. police1234
  2. AhmedAli
  3. Maldives2024
  4. T7#qLm!9vRz@2p Correct answer.

Explanation

Password strength depends on length and unpredictability, not on personal meaning. A long random string mixing upper and lower case, digits and symbols has vastly more possible combinations than names, dates or dictionary words, so brute-force and guessing attacks take far longer.

Question 43Cyber Safety and Digital Security

Why should two-factor authentication be enabled on an officer's email account?

  1. It adds a second proof of identity so a stolen password alone is not enough Correct answer.
  2. It prevents the account from being accessed from foreign countries
  3. It makes the password unnecessary for daily sign-in
  4. It automatically encrypts every attachment sent from the account

Explanation

Two-factor authentication requires a second factor, such as a one-time code or authenticator prompt, in addition to the password. If an attacker obtains the password through phishing or a leak, they still cannot sign in without that second factor.

Question 44Cyber Safety and Digital Security

An officer finds a USB flash drive in the police station car park. What is the correct handling?

  1. Discard it in the bin because it may contain malware
  2. Plug it into the office computer and run a scan only after opening files
  3. Plug it into a standalone computer to read the owner's name
  4. Hand it to the IT or cyber unit for controlled examination without connecting it to operational systems Correct answer.

Explanation

Unknown removable media can carry malware that runs automatically when connected, and it may also be evidence. It should be passed to the IT or cyber unit, which can examine it in an isolated environment while preserving any evidential value.

Question 45Cyber Safety and Digital Security

What does the 'https' prefix and padlock in a browser address bar indicate?

  1. The site is hosted in the Maldives
  2. The website has been verified as honest by the police
  3. The site cannot contain malicious scripts
  4. The connection to the site is encrypted, but the site's intentions are not guaranteed Correct answer.

Explanation

HTTPS encrypts traffic between the browser and the server, protecting data in transit from eavesdropping. It says nothing about whether the operator is trustworthy, so phishing sites can and do use HTTPS.

Question 46Cyber Safety and Digital Security

Which practice best protects sensitive case files stored on a police workstation?

  1. Sharing the login password with the shift team so anyone can access files
  2. Locking the screen whenever leaving the desk and using separate accounts per officer Correct answer.
  3. Saving copies to a personal cloud drive for backup
  4. Writing the password on a note stuck to the monitor

Explanation

Accountability requires that each officer uses their own account, and an unattended unlocked screen lets anyone act under that identity. Locking the screen and avoiding shared credentials preserves an audit trail and limits exposure of case data.

Question 47Cyber Safety and Digital Security

What is 'ransomware'?

  1. A tool that checks websites for spelling errors
  2. Software that encrypts a victim's files and demands payment for the decryption key Correct answer.
  3. A program that speeds up a slow computer for a fee
  4. A service that backs up data to a remote server

Explanation

Ransomware is malicious software that denies access to data, usually by encryption, and demands payment in exchange for restoring it. Paying does not guarantee recovery, which is why offline backups and incident reporting are the recommended defences.

Question 48Cyber Safety and Digital Security

A social media account posts a photo claiming to show a crime scene in Malé. Before sharing it professionally, what should an officer do first?

  1. Verify the source and check whether official channels have confirmed the incident Correct answer.
  2. Share it immediately so the public is warned
  3. Download and edit the image to improve clarity
  4. Add a comment guessing the location

Explanation

Unverified images spread quickly and can be old, edited or from another country. Professional practice is to confirm the source and cross-check with official information before amplifying it, because sharing false content damages public trust and can hinder an investigation.

Question 49Cyber Safety and Digital Security

An officer's work email receives a message from an unknown sender with an attachment named 'statement.pdf.exe'. What does the double extension most likely indicate?

  1. A disguised executable file intended to run malicious code Correct answer.
  2. A file that has been digitally signed by a court
  3. A scanned document saved in a special police format
  4. A compressed archive that must be opened twice

Explanation

Windows hides known extensions by default, so a file named with '.pdf.exe' actually runs as a program while appearing to be a document. Attackers use this trick to get victims to launch malware; genuine statements are not distributed as executables.

Question 50Cyber Safety and Digital Security

Which action best reduces the harm of a lost police-issued smartphone containing work email?

  1. Asking colleagues to call the phone repeatedly
  2. Remotely wiping or locking the device through the mobile device management system Correct answer.
  3. Changing the email password after one week
  4. Waiting to see whether it is returned before reporting

Explanation

A managed device can be locked or wiped remotely, cutting off access to stored data and email almost immediately. Prompt reporting to the IT unit allows this to be done before an attacker can exploit the device.