From April 9 to April 19 this year, the Ministry of the Interior, in cooperation with the study company “Latvijas fakti”, conducted a public opinion survey on security issues. According to the results of the study, 87% of the surveyed Latvian residents believe that Latvia is safe country to live in, as well as, the society is characterised by a high level of trust in various security institutions and a positive assessment of their contact with these institutions.
“I thank the public for the openness and assessment of the work of home affairs services. Our aim is to ensure that Latvia is among the five most secure countries in Europe and that public confidence in home affairs continues to grow. We will work to make our services more and more friendly and competent in the eyes of the public, that is our standard. The data from this survey show that we are on the right track, because public confidence in home affairs services is high. I appreciate the work of the home affairs services and selflessness for the benefit of society,” said Mr Sandis Ģirģens, the Minister for the Interior.
The aim of the study was to clarify citizens' feelings of safety in different environments, citizens' concerns about different security topics and concerns about personal security, as well as, experience in dealing with different authorities in the home affairs sector and their assessment of the work.
In general, 70% of the surveyed residents of Latvia trust the State Fire and Rescue Service, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, the State Border Guard. The dominant share of the population also trusts the State Police.
The surveyed residents of Latvia generally feel safe, both when speaking about the country as a whole and about the neighborhood of residence. More than two-thirds of the households surveyed have been subjected to the following safeguards: when they leave, the door of the residence is always locked (95%), a smoke detector is installed in the residence (81%), there is a skill to handle the fire extinguisher (78%) when they are in housing, the door is locked (71%).
In the public view, the most pressing security problems in the country, which were mentioned by more than two-thirds of respondents, are corruption (concern 74% of the surveyed population of Latvia), the Covid-19 pandemic (71%), financial crimes (70%), organised crime and cyber crime (66%).
Citizens are also concerned about safety issues such as road safety (63%), trafficking and exploitation of human beings (57%), civil protection in the event of natural and man-made disasters (54%), influx of immigrants or refugees (51%).
In terms of housing areas, the surveyed residents of Latvia are concerned by child safety (60%), theft (52%), drug trafficking (51%), tipsy people (50%).
A majority of the surveyed Latvian residents (60%) believe they know how to proceed in a situation that indicates or suspects trafficking and exploitation. People aged 35 to 44, with higher education and employed are relatively better informed on this issue. 40% of participants were critical of their knowledge of how to act in a situation that suggests or suspects trafficking in human beings.
In assessing the preparedness for potential emergencies and non-standard situations, the views of the survey participants were shared. Nearly half (47%) of those surveyed are partly prepared for emergency or non-standard situations. 28% of the public viewed their readiness for potential emergencies and non-standard situations positively by mentioning prepared reserves (matches, candles, flashlights, lighters, radio with spare batteries, gas (alcohol) cookers, medical kits and necessary medicines, food and drinking water reserves, cash). 25% of those surveyed are not prepared for non-standard situations.
Latvian residents surveyed in the field of public information and communication acknowledged that the most important sources of information on various security issues are news portals (53% of citizens get information on security), television (44%), social networks profiles of security services (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc.) (35%), radio (30%).
Meanwhile, the “Mana drošība” (My safety) app was recognized by every second one in the survey, downloaded by 3% of respondents, while 51% of those surveyed acknowledged they didn't have information about the app.
The results of the survey will be used to identify the strategic priorities for the home affairs sector and to develop the next operational strategy of the Ministry of Interior, as well as the work of the home affairs services.
Prepared by:
Gunita Kogane
Ministry of Interior
Communication department
Public relations specialist
Tel.: 67219161
Mob.: 28699783
E-mail: gunita.kogane@iem.gov.lv