One of the main priorities for the State Police (VP) in the coming years will remain strengthening human resources, said State Police Chief Armands Ruks in an interview with LTV’s “Morning Panorama” on Tuesday.
Ruks’ first five-year term as chief ended this autumn, and it has now been extended for another term until 2030. According to him, the biggest challenge so far has been the reorganization of police operations.
The police chief emphasized that significant efforts have been made to improve staffing, which continues to be insufficient — although some positive trends have emerged this year. The greatest shortage remains in response and patrol units, which are essential to ensuring a greater police presence in the community.
Ruks underlined that visible police presence has a strong impact in reducing crime rates.
Reducing violence, including domestic violence and violence against women, also remains a key priority for the State Police. Ruks noted that Latvia’s participation in the so-called Istanbul Convention provides a legal framework for combating violence and ensures access to financial funds for implementing initiatives to reduce violence.
Commenting on the impact of illegal migration on Latvia’s security situation, Ruks said that while “of course, vigilance is necessary,” he does not see any major problems overall. He noted that the vast majority of foreigners in Latvia have entered legally, and that most violations occur mainly because some later fail to update their documents properly.
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