The police have to make every effort to maintain social security and make the city an ideal tourism destination given a rise in criminal activities, he stressed.

Camera to supervise traffic policemen

Thanh confirmed at a recent meeting that the city will work out measures to both reward and punish policemen by the end of this year based on their achievements or failure to accomplish their tasks.

He suggested that all traffic police teams stationed at the four city entrance gates of Hoa Phuoc, Hoa Hai, Hoa Nhon and Kim Lien be replaced completely every three months to prevent negative practices such as bribery or other forms of favouritism.

Traffic policemen in the city will be asked to submit in March their written commitment to never accepting bribes, he said at the meeting.

Other measures to keep the police force ‘clean’ are being considered, including installing 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 (US$240) 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,” he 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 police will be provided with modern weapons and even patrol motorcycles, especially for the anti-robbery task 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 Danang as a destination for tourism, so it should be a safe city,” said the municipal Party leader.

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