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Promo-LEX Association is presenting the Opinion regarding the acquisition of rapid response vehicles by the General Inspectorate of Police during the state of emergency declared across the country.

Given the fact that the GIP’s procurement notice of the acquisition of 54 field operations vehicles for rapid intervention teams was published during the state of emergency, it raised numerous questions, criticism and discontent among different actors in society, including citizens.

In this context, both the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova stated that it is about the capitalization of some financial means, within the projects financed by the European Union. Likewise, GIP clarified in a press release posted on social networks that the procurement thereof is financed by the European Union (EU) funds, under the 2016-2020 Police Development Strategy, and not from the state budget.

However, there is no requirement from the EU’ side on procuring any new vehicles, this being only the decision of the Moldovan authorities. We emphasize that the subsequent allocation of financial resources from the Budget Support, after their disbursement by the European partners, is at the discretion of the authorities.

Thus, through this OPINION, the Promo-LEX Association considers necessary to emphasize that the procurement of vehicles is a planned measure, which has actually taken place in previous years. Promo-LEX considers that the procurement thereof, without implementing any other measures included in the Strategy, could to some extent contribute, but not yet sufficiently to reducing the intervention time at national level up to 15 minutes.

Promo-LEX believes that under the conditions of the state of emergency, while using certain information not reflecting reality, but also under the substantial arrears in the fulfillment of the commitments undertaken, the appropriateness of these procurements can be subject to serious criticism, including from partners but also from citizens.

That is why, in view of ensuring the transparency of the procurements made, but also for enhancing the achievement of the objectives set under the 2016 – 2020 Police Development Strategy and Budget Support Programme for Police Reform, the Promo-LEX Association recommends, in addition to the procurement procedures, ensuring the following measures:

• publishing the information on the provision of rapid response teams with the equipment needed (albeit with vehicles), as well as the information on their short-and long-term needs;
• supplementing the number of rapid response teams to citizens’ calls, according to territorial needs;
• conducting trainings on the way of response for both persons involved in taking emergency calls (dispatchers) and response teams, including on the use of special equipment and means;
• preparing and approving all the documents required for the operationalization of the National Inspectorate of Public Security and decentralization of patrol and rapid response structures under the Police Development Strategy. Implementing the measures taken after the end of the state of emergency;
• providing true information to the public on the sources, methods and limits of procurement of the equipment, tools, etc., but also on the procedures for disbursement of financial means by development partners.

The full Opinion can be accessed here.

This OPINION has been drafted by the Promo-LEX Association within the “Civic Monitoring of Police Reform in the Republic of Moldova” project implemented with the financial support of the European Union. The opinions expressed herein belong to the Promo-LEX Association and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union.

For more details, please contact:
Inga Stegarescu, Press Officer of the Promo-LEX Association
GSM: 069 26 96 84;
E-mail: [email protected]