Effects of police reform will be sensed in 2012

The effects of the reform in the Ministry of the Interior will be sensed at the beginning of 2012, assured Igor Trofimov, head of the Ministry's legal department. Igor Trofimov told a press conference on Thursday that the implementation of such an important process cannot be achieved in a short period of time and should not be limited to partial replacement of staff or superficial actions. Currently the Ministry works on over 70 legislative proposals that are expected to bring about significant change. At present, about 3,000 employees of the Ministry are not involved in police activity like investigating or interrogating, and Igor Trofimov says that such personnel should not have the status of a police officer. Further, Igor Trofimov revealed that maintaining public order will be the exclusive duty of contract-based carabineers. Trofimov assured that the reform will not result in lay-offs, annulment of police ranks or abolishment of the uniform. The police reform involves 8 stages and is in line with the commitments assumed by Moldova under the National Program on Moldova-EU Visa Liberalization. The major effects expected from the reform include better services delivered by the Ministry of the Interior and its subdivisions, a more accessible and simple system for the citizens and improved salary conditions for the Ministry's employees.