Retired police officers to assist crime prevention in high-risk neighborhoods

In Tashkent and Fergana regions, retired officers of the Internal Affairs system with extensive practical experience and a track record of effective crime prevention will be contracted to assist in reducing crime in areas with high criminal activity. The initiative was formalized through an order issued by the Minister of Internal Affairs.

This decision follows the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Internal Affairs Bodies” and Presidential Resolution No. PQ-3413 of November 29, 2017, which aims to significantly improve human resource procedures and service organization within internal affairs bodies.

Under the new order, retired employees of the Internal Affairs Bureau will be engaged on a voluntary and contractual basis through a competitive selection process. There is no limit to the number of participants. The selection will be free from any form of discrimination based on gender, age, race, nationality, language, social origin, criminal record of family members, financial standing, religious beliefs, or political affiliations. Only work-related skills and professional performance will be taken into account.

The selection process will be conducted at least once a year in Tashkent and Fergana regions. It will be based on the list of neighborhoods with elevated crime rates, as determined by the heads of regional Internal Affairs Directorates.

Certain criteria will disqualify a candidate from participation. These include having an unserved or unexpunged conviction for an intentional crime; being legally declared incompetent or partially capable; being registered at psychiatric or narcological institutions; suffering from medical conditions or physical disabilities that prevent the performance of required duties; or lacking the necessary qualifications or at least five years of practical experience in crime prevention or in internal affairs bodies.

A prevention inspector will document the monthly work completed by each contracted pensioner. This report will be submitted to the financial security units of the Internal Affairs Directorates in Tashkent and Fergana. The inspector will be held accountable for the accuracy of the reports submitted.

Retired officers who meet the criteria and are selected for service will receive monthly payments equivalent to 100 percent of their existing pension. This payment will be funded by the Crime Prevention System Development Fund under the Crime Prevention Service.

As a reminder, it was previously announced that administrative-operational groups would be established within the prevention units of high-crime regions across Uzbekistan.