Tokayev calls for new culture of police-citizen relations

Tengrinews.kz - President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for a new culture of communication between the police and the public, citing Akorda.
Speaking on June 23 at an expanded meeting of law enforcement agencies, the President emphasized the need to further adopt a service-oriented model in the work of law enforcement and to strengthen human resources within the sector.
Photo: Akorda press service
Photo: Akorda press service

“Police and other institutions must serve as a vital link between the government and society. To achieve this, a new model of interaction with citizens must be established—one that fully reflects our core principle: ‘the state and its citizens are one.’ Progress in this direction exists, but efforts remain insufficient due to a lack of consistency. We must move away from excessive bureaucracy, which hinders meaningful engagement with the public. People's trust in the reality of reforms, justice, and the efficiency of the state largely depends on the professionalism of law enforcement,” said the President.

Tokayev also underscored the importance of further empowering district police officers, who often serve as the primary liaison between the state and the community.

“This is especially evident in rural areas, where a local officer may be a protector, legal advisor, and often the final authority people turn to for justice. That’s why I believe we should introduce a preferential system for calculating years of service for rural officers when awarding ranks—counting each year of service as 1.5 years. I also urge regional akims to improve housing conditions and strengthen the material and technical base for rural officers,” Tokayev said.

Photo: Akorda press service
He added that in addition to modernizing the work of district officers, patrol services must also be restructured.

“Patrol officers must be polite and professional when interacting with the public. At the same time, citizens are obligated to comply with all lawful demands made by the police. Without this, we cannot maintain order on the roads,” the President stated.

President urges law enforcement to prepare for change