Proposal for the Ministry of Public Security to have no more than 6 senior generals and increase the service age limit

The Ministry of Public Security is seeking comments on the second draft of the Law on Amendments and Supplements to a Number of Articles of the Law on People's Public Security, focusing mainly on the amended content related to the rank of general in the People's Public Security.

The draft proposes that the rank of Senior Lieutenant General shall not exceed 7 people, including: Deputy Minister of Public Security (no more than 6 people) and a police officer seconded to hold the position of Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on National Defense and Security.

According to current regulations, the rank of Senior Lieutenant General is no more than 6, reserved for Deputy Minister of Public Security.

The Ministry of Public Security explained that the proposal to add a position of Chairman of the National Assembly's Defense and Security Committee with the highest rank of Senior Lieutenant General is based on the current reality that a Deputy Minister of Public Security is seconded to hold this position.

Illustration: Pham Hai

The Ministry of Public Security also proposed that the number of major generals should not exceed 162 people, including positions such as: Director of units under the Ministry of Public Security and equivalent positions; Director of Public Security of provinces, centrally-run cities or areas with complicated security and order, large areas, and large populations; Deputy Head of the Inspection Committee of the Central Public Security Party Committee; Deputy Director, Deputy Commander and equivalent; Deputy Director of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City Public Security (no more than 3 people per unit); police officers seconded to the National Assembly's Committee for National Defense and Security, are also proposed to have the rank of major general.

The Ministry of Public Security explained that, according to current regulations, the number of people holding the rank of Major General in the police force is no more than 157. Therefore, the heads of some units equivalent to the level of a department have not been regulated to have the highest rank ceiling of Major General. This creates a lack of consistency in the regulations on ranks with equivalent positions and titles.

Currently, the heads of some schools and academies in the People's Public Security have the rank of Lieutenant General such as: Director of the People's Security Academy, People's Police, People's Public Security Politics... However, the Principals of two key schools, People's Police University, People's Security, only have the highest rank of Colonel.

Increase the age limit for police service

The second draft also proposes to increase the maximum service age of the police (2 years for men, 5 years for women); and 2 years for officers and non-commissioned officers. Female officers with the rank of colonel will increase their service age by 5 years, and those with the rank of lieutenant colonel will increase their service age by 3 years. Female general officers will retain the current age of 60.

Regarding the time for increasing age according to the roadmap, the Ministry of Public Security proposed to increase 3 months for men and 4 months for women each year. As for officers and non-commissioned officers with the highest service age limit under 60 years old for men and under 55 years old for women, the age limit will be increased by 2 years immediately, not following this roadmap.

The draft also proposes to extend the service age for police officers who are professors, associate professors, doctors, and senior experts from 60 to 62 years old for men; and from 55 to 60 years old for women.

Proposal for Colonel to Major General must have at least three years of service remaining.

The Ministry of Public Security proposed that officers considered for promotion from Colonel to Major General must have at least three years of service remaining. In case of less than three years of service, the President will decide.

The Ministry of Public Security proposed to issue air security cards.

The Ministry of Public Security has just completed a draft circular regulating the form, management and use of aviation security cards to solicit comments from agencies, organizations and individuals.