Police need to be more open – Tokayev

18 April, 2019 08:51

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev partook in an expanded meeting of the board of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Akorda press service informs.

The meeting was also attended by Head of the Presidential Administration Bakytzhan Sagintayev, Assistant to the President – Secretary of the Security Council Kalmukhanbet Kassymov, First Deputy Prime Minister – Finance Minister Alikhan Smailov, the senior management of the Presidential Administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

While addressing, the Head of State underlined that the first Kazakh President – Leader of the Nation tasked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to create “zero tolerance” towards offences.

“Police work is under the watchful eye of the whole society. Your service is in direct connection with the interests of the country’s citizens and their security. Therefore, the work of the Ministry of Internal Affair should be organized neatly and systematically. The police should be more open, requiring for dialogue with the public. In so doing, we are about to continue reforming the law enforcement system commenced by the Leader of the Nation. This largely focuses on guaranteeing the full protection of the rights of Kazakhs,” said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Speaking of the stability of the crime situation in the country, the Kazakh President stressed the areas on which Internal Affairs officials should work intensively. They are the lack of effective interaction of the police with the society, the poor work on preventing cattle theft, mobile phones and automobile components, the lack of prevention of drug trafficking. In addition, the Head of State accentuated the need to reduce road fatalities, to intensify the prevention of on-spot offences and to protect fellow citizens from natural disasters and emergencies.

“The main requirement for police services is effectiveness, with public trust as the key gauge for effectiveness. People are complaining about police services’ rudeness and incompetency, with the latter breaking the law and rules, especially on roads. The Ministry of Internal Affairs should work out comprehensive systematic measures to pick up experienced and honest professionals and select young competent workers taking into account anti-corruption immunity,” said the Head of State.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also approved the measures on specializing some police units working with foreign tourists, pointing that their security is the integral part of favorable investment climate.

On top of that, the Kazakh President thanked ordinary police offices, who are first to help people putting their lives to risk, reaffirming that the State would provide strong support.

Having heard the information of Minister of Internal Affairs Mr Yurgumbayev, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev tasked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to form systematic work to reach the tasks set, to make better use of media and social networks, and the Government to provide the Ministry with necessary resources.

Concluding his speech, the Head of State noted that the realisation of the instructions given to the board will be constantly monitored by the Presidential Administration and the Secretary of the Security Council.