Nguyen Ba Thanh, secretary of the Communist Party Committee of the central Danang City, Monday announced a zero tolerance policy against traffic policemen accepting bribes, in a bid to ratchet up social security.
 |
| Da Nang traffic policeman is working at his station - Photo: Tuoi Tre |
Camera to supervise traffic policemen
The city’s leader confirmed at the meeting that the city will work out policies and measures to both reward and punish policemen by the end of this year. He noted that Da Nang has almost wiped out illegal racing on the streets in the past ten years thanks to the implementation of stringent punitive measures.
Thanh suggested that entire teams of traffic policemen stationed at the four city entrance gates of Hoa Phuoc, Hoa Hai, Hoa Nhon and Kim Lien be replaced every three months to prevent regular drivers going into the city from getting too familiar with the police, leading to bribery or other forms of favoritism.
Traffic policemen in the city will be asked to submit their written commitment to never accepting bribes in March, he said at the meeting.
Other measures to keep the police force ‘clean’ are being considered, such as the installation of a network of cameras at traffic stations to monitor police behavior.
In return for their greater job performance and integrity, each traffic policeman will receive a monthly allowance of VND5 million (USD240) and ten percent of the monetary value of the tickets they issue to traffic violators. Each officer will have a total income of at least VND10 million ($481) a month, Thanh promised.
“However, if they are caught taking bribes, no matter how small the amount, they will be fired immediately without any delay,” Thanh emphasized.
Improving public security
As of this year, the police force will be well-equipped to ensure their safety and efficiency.
Thanh promised that “Danang’s police will be provided with modern weapons and even patrol motorcycles, especially for the special anti-robbery force.”
Besides being equipped with 50 more police motorcycles and German guns, the anti-robbery force will also be expanded to include 20 new policemen. Furthermore, each patrol policeman will receive an extra of VND100,000 for every patrol assignment.
Thanh said the city will also expand Hoa Son Prison by five more hectares and set aside a VND3.4 billion budget a year for the security force.
“We are trying to establish Dannang as a destination for tourism, so it should be a safe city. Every method to make the city safe and livable is being considered,” Thanh said.
