The National Assembly held an online discussion on the draft Law on Mobile Police.

After 7 years of implementing the Mobile Police Ordinance, this force has played a core role in implementing armed measures to protect national security and ensure social order and safety.

Overview of the discussion session at the National Assembly building on the afternoon of October 25, 2021. Photo: VNA

However, given the socio-economic development, changes and adjustments to the legal system, and the complex developments in the world, region, and domestically, the demands and tasks on the Mobile Police Force are becoming increasingly heavy. Furthermore, the Ordinance has revealed some shortcomings and limitations that need to be addressed to comply with the Constitution and ensure the consistency of the legal system. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and promulgate a Law on the Mobile Police Force.

The draft Law consists of 5 chapters and 31 articles, structured as follows: Chapter I. General Provisions; Chapter II. Duties, Powers, Organization, and Operation of the Mobile Police; Chapter III. Ensuring Operation and Policies and Regulations for the Mobile Police; Chapter IV. State Management and Responsibilities of Agencies, Organizations, and Individuals Regarding the Mobile Police; Chapter V. Implementing Provisions. Within this, the draft Law identifies 7 basic task groups and 7 powers of the Mobile Police.

National Assembly delegates from Nghe An province attend the meeting via video conference from Nghe An. Photo: Thanh Duy

During the discussion, delegates unanimously agreed on the necessity of developing a draft Law on Mobile Police to codify the views and policies of the Party and State on building a revolutionary, professional, elite, and modern Mobile Police force; ensuring it is consistent with the unique nature of the Mobile Police and the requirements of national security protection and maintaining social order and safety in the new situation; aligning with relevant legal provisions on the functions, duties, and development of the Mobile Police force; and addressing some shortcomings of the Ordinance on Mobile Police.

The delegates also agreed on the following approach: the Law should only stipulate in principle the organizational structure of the Mobile Police, including the Mobile Police Command and the Mobile Police of the Provincial and City Police Departments under the Central Government; and entrust the Minister of Public Security with the task of specifying the details of the Mobile Police organizational structure to ensure consistency with the provisions of the 2018 Law on the People's Police.

Delegate Vi Van Son - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of Nghe An province, attended the meeting at the Nghe An branch. Photo: Thanh Duy

In addition, delegates also raised several issues related to the use of weapons, explosives, support tools, vehicles, and technical equipment; the mobilization of personnel, vehicles, and equipment; the scope of operation of mobile police units and other forces; whether to regulate search and rescue functions; and the selection of citizens into the Mobile Police, especially the need for policies to recruit ethnic minorities into the force.

In particular, many delegates expressed concerns and debated the content of the draft law which stipulates that the Mobile Police Force should be equipped with aircraft and boats. Accordingly, some opinions argued against equipping the Mobile Police Force with aircraft and boats; others agreed with equipping them with these two means of transport... The Minister of Public Security gave explanations and clarified some issues raised by the National Assembly delegates.