Hello, police?
Kazakhstan has officially admitted a catastrophic shortage of police officers. Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Lepeha cited figures that call into question the very idea of a "safe country." The patrol service alone needs at least an additional 10,000 people. Meanwhile, the total staff deficit in the local police force exceeds 20,000 officers.
The reasons are simple and alarming at the same time: the country is growing, with new neighborhoods, schools, and local police stations appearing. Yet there are no people to guard all of this. Lepeha directly admitted that the actual need is significantly higher than the stated figures.
But the main question is: who will pay for this? The staff expansion will fall on local budgets. Regional administrations (akimats), which are already bursting at the seams, will have to find money for new police officers. The Ministry of Internal Affairs expects the process to begin as early as next year. However, if funding is not found, the promises will remain on paper.