Internal security system is in critical state - Levits

RIGA - Internal security system in Latvia is in a very critical state, therefore, in next year's budget, investments in development of the sector should be made, said Latvian President Egils Levits after his meeting with Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity).

Levits said that one of the topics of the meeting was the internal security situation.

"Openly speaking, the state security sector is lagging behind the overall development. In the past years, we have made investments in a number of sectors, and they have developed, but internal security institutions - the police, investigators and border guards - they have not received any support. This may not continue, the internal security system is in a critical state," the president said.

The president called on the government, when working on next year's budget, to set internal security system as one of the main priorities. One of the main aspects is good quality education for internal structure employees. 

"The education should be viewed broader. Education of law enforcement officers should be viewed together with the Justice Ministry's project on the Judicial Academy. I am confident that liquidation of the Police Academy has been a mistake, but it does not mean that the academy should be renewed in exact same way," said Levits.

Karins said that training for enforcing internal security is necessary and the Police Academy will be renewed in "one or another way".

As reported, Interior Minister Sandis Girgens (KPV LV) has already been speaking about a specialized higher education institution for law enforcement employees. This idea has been supported also by other officials.