On Monday, May 18, State Audit Office issued an audit report which identified shortcomings in both the State Police regarding the purchase and use of technical devices on a daily basis intended to improve road safety and in the operation of the State Police College in relation to the workload and remuneration of educators. The State Police has commenced disciplinary proceedings and the Director of the State Police College suspended from office during its investigation. In addition, in the light of the information provided in the report, we shall provide an explanation to the State Police.
State control has made recommendations to the State Police to address these shortcomings. The national police have adopted and harmonised these recommendations by agreeing to implement them, while continuing to play an active role in police work to address potential gaps and optimise planning and deployment processes. “It must be acknowledged that, in some cases, by introducing new technologies into police work, we are facing unforeseen circumstances that are preventing this process, so that it becomes difficult and time-consuming. Of course, we acknowledge that some procedures in the police could take place more smoothly and that improvements are needed, but we are already working on it and will continue to do so. However, this does not necessarily mean that the devices purchased by the police to improve road safety are storing dust on the shelves of warehouses. “We are not building stocks, we are working to make this technique fully used,” explains Andrejs Grishins, Chief of State Police.
On the other hand, as regards the State Audit, it concludes on the existing procedures of the State Police College regarding teacher workload accounting and the calculation of wages A. Grishin points out: “This conclusion of the State control audit – the refusal to issue an opinion on financial statements points to potentially such significant, comprehensive and affecting shortcomings and irregularities and is the harshest assessment that the institution can obtain. 'Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated in this context and the Director of the State Police College Regivede Dinah Taran has been suspended for the period of investigation. For this time, Deputy Director of the State Police College, Major Zane Pumpure, has been appointed as the director of the State Police College. Similarly, the State Police has launched a service inspection of general alleged offences at the State Police College, which has been identified by the State control Office.
On 31 October 2019, public procurement in the field of road traffic carried out by the State Police started a service inspection at the State Police, but on 6 November 2019 at the Ministry of Interior. Both service checks have been completed without identifying any abuse on the part of officials. The service inspection decisions made a number of proposals to improve the procurement procedure – to carry out a more scrupulous assessment, to improve the training process of employees with technical equipment, to strengthen cooperation between the institutions subordinate to the Ministry of Interior. These recommendations have been taken into account and are being implemented in further police work.
Compact video cameras designed to be attached to policeman's clothing were purchased last December, but delivered in January this year. The introduction of these devices, the adaptation and harmonisation of the various systems took time. The shortcomings were rectified during the audit, and since the end of April this year all 142 video cameras have been actively used to monitor daily traffic.
Similarly, the State Police currently has five 3D laser scanners designed for exactly the purpose identified in its audit report by State control – to improve the design quality of road accidents with severe or fatal consequences. The site of major road events differs significantly from the site of a lighter road accident, which is much more complex, and requires higher-quality technical means to help detect the circumstances of the accident and make it easier for experts to work through expert examinations and case investigations. The national police recognise and recognise this deficiency: it is not always possible to ensure full use of these devices in place of events, but this is avoidable and the police will address this issue.
Speed control shall be carried out by the State Police by various technical means. So far in 2018, hand-held video services have been used mainly by police motor units to monitor traffic. Currently, with the re-launch of the motor season of the active police, verification of video services is also ongoing, once it is concluded, will be used again by the police to monitor day-to-day traffic. Similarly, according to the conclusions of the State Control Office, the Transport Safety Board of the State Police had found that in one of the departments these technical means were not being used in full, ordering such a failure to be rectified.
On the use of drone in road traffic monitoring: specific training is required to carry out drone pilot operations and an authorisation issued by the Civil Aviation Agency for high-risk unmanned aircraft. One pilot at the National Police Traffic Safety Board has already obtained a drone pilot permit and further personnel training is ongoing to be able to use this unmanned aircraft effectively in police work.
Prepared by:
Simona Griavite
State Police
Public Relations Division
Mob. Tel. 29900345
Tel. 67075014
E-mail: simona.gravite@vp.gov.lv