President Lương Cường speaks at the conference on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — President Lương Cường on Monday called on the police force to take the lead in national governance reforms, strengthening public security and stepping up crime prevention efforts as he addressed a major mid-year review conference in Hà Nội.

The conference reviewed the force’s performance over the first half of 2025 and set priorities for the remainder of the year. It also marked an important political milestone, taking place exactly one week after the official rollout of the country’s new two-tier local government structure.

According to Minister of Public Security, General Lương Tam Quang, who chaired the conference, the transition has significantly reshaped the public security system, which now comprises 34 provincial-level departments and 3,319 commune-level units.

The reorganisation is part of a broader national effort to streamline state institutions and improve local governance.

Minister Quang emphasised that this year’s conference was significant, not only because of the administrative reforms but also because it coincides with key milestones: the 80th anniversary of the People's Public Security Force and the 20th anniversary of the All-People’s Security Protection Day, both of which will be celebrated later this year.

In the first half of 2025, the Ministry of Public Security took a leading role in implementing key Party and State policies, particularly those related to institutional reform, digital transformation, and legal modernisation.

According to Minister Quang, the police force has acted as a model in simplifying bureaucratic structures and piloting the two-tier governance model, providing lessons and insights for the broader political system.

The force has also offered strategic policy advice to the Party and State on legal and institutional reforms, contributing to the removal of longstanding 'bottlenecks' that hinder national development.

Notably, police agencies have been among the most active in promoting scientific and technological innovation, digital transformation and creative reform, aligning with the country’s broader shift toward modernisation.

They have also focused heavily on maintaining public order and safety, managing national security and expanding Việt Nam’s presence in international peacekeeping and security cooperation.

Operational areas such as public engagement, international relations, theory and research, and the mobile police force have all seen renewed efforts, while internal Party-building and force development have been pushed forward as core priorities.

Logistical, technical and financial operations have been carried out efficiently to support these missions. Leadership and command structures have also evolved to meet the demands of a rapidly changing era, Minister Quang said.

President Lương Cường presents medals to outstanding individuals from the Ministry of Public Security. — VNA/VNS Photo

In his address, President Lương Cường praised the public security force for its dedication and accomplishments in recent months. He expressed strong support for the ministry’s mid-year agenda and priorities.

He called on the police to enhance their ability to forecast and respond to emerging threats, particularly hostile actions by adversarial forces, and to offer early, strategic policy advice to Party and State leaders.

"The police must never be caught off guard," he said, adding that national security must be guaranteed under all circumstances to preserve a peaceful and stable environment for development.

The President emphasised that the police must work closely with ministries, Party agencies, local governments and other security and defense forces to build a unified national security strategy.

He underscored the need to safeguard public trust, reinforce community-based security models, and ensure that reforms do not disrupt public services or create blind spots vulnerable to crime.

"There must be no interruptions, no vacant areas, no management gaps that criminals can exploit," he stressed.

The President also called for intensified efforts to combat crime and social evils, particularly in areas that directly affect people’s lives and health. He highlighted the need for crackdowns on environmental crimes, food safety violations, counterfeit goods, narcotics, cyber fraud, and organised crime.

He reminded the ministry to ensure the absolute security of key national events, critical infrastructure, and strategic assets, while continuing to promote international cooperation in protecting national sovereignty and security interests.

Looking ahead, President Lương Cường urged the ministry to accelerate the development of Việt Nam’s national data centre, advance digital transformation, and help develop a national safety and security index to support economic growth, investment, and tourism.

He also highlighted the importance of raising public legal awareness, improving disaster preparedness, and strengthening rescue and emergency response systems.

Internally, the President called on the Central Public Security Party Committee and the ministry to lead efforts in Party-building and force development, ensuring the police remain a revolutionary, elite, and modernised force.

President Lương Cường pins the Third-class Labour Order onto the Victory Flag of the Ministry of Public Security. — VNA/VNS Photo

Special attention, he said, must be given to developing a high-quality leadership team, particularly at the strategic and provincial levels, with integrity, competence, and strong political will.

He also asked the ministry to carefully organise upcoming events marking the 80th anniversary of the public security force, the 20th anniversary of the All-People’s Security Protection Day and the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day.

Speaking on behalf of the force, Minister Quang expressed deep appreciation for the guidance and support of the Party, the State and President Lương Cường personally.

He affirmed that the entire public security force would seriously and fully implement the President’s instructions, which he described as a clear strategic direction for ensuring national security and building a strong, modern police force. — VNS