Law enforcement leaders must face consequences of actions

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh (centre) and head of the National Crime Fighting Steering Committee chaired a meeting with law enforcement agencies on July 26 in Hanoi. (Photo: VGP)

The plan aims to increase transparency in the fight against crime, said Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, who is also head of the National Crime Fighting Steering Committee (Committee 138/CP) and head of the National Steering Committee for Combating Smuggling, Trade Fraud and Counterfeits (Committee 389), at a meeting with law enforcement agencies this week in Hanoi.

Binh pointed out that law enforcement agencies had numerous shortcomings, including a lack of planning for events such as large gatherings or what to do in volatile situations.

The agencies were told to step up their efforts to fight crime, especially organised crime, loan sharks, fraud, human trafficking and child abuse.

Other major issues include smuggling, counterfeit products and corruption which have hit the business environment and hampered the process of international integration.

The Deputy PM noted that even fake medicine, liquor, cigarettes and fertilisers, which could have disastrous consequences, were on sale in broad daylight, notably the case of Vinaca, a company based in Hai Phong, selling pills that it falsely claimed could treat cancer but were later revealed to be made of bamboo charcoal. Smuggling had shown no signs of slowing down, especially in northern and southwestern provinces.

He stressed the importance of including local communities in the fight against crime. He ordered local leaders to encourage citizens to support law enforcement agencies.

Binh made it clear that corruption among local leaders was a major obstacle in the country’s anti-crime efforts and that nobody was above the law should they be found to support criminal activities. Local leaders will also be held responsible and have disciplinary action taken against them for major criminal activities if they failed to detect and report them./.

VNA