The next reforms of the police sector were presented

It is proposed to introduce a new performance evaluation system, which will form a general evaluation for each year, will be measurable, will enable to evaluate the work performed by the service both at the individual and structural unit level and give appropriate evaluations. The overall rating will be based on the effectiveness of the performance of the functions assigned to the officer, the arithmetic mean of the current ratings, the general rating of the tests as a result of physical and combat readiness.

This was announced by the RA Minister of Internal Affairs, Arpine Sargsyan, presenting the legislative package “On Service in the Police” and related laws for discussion in the first reading at the NA session.

A harmonious relationship between certification and performance evaluation systems will be ensured. According to the minister, the certification is carried out once every 3 years, which does not give an opportunity to carry out current assessments of the performance of the employees and give a more comprehensive assessment of the work of the service.

“We have a number of employees who, over the course of 3 years, can record very good results, but for various reasons fail to pass the actual certification exams. On the other hand, an employee may have less than stellar results over a three-year period, but when preparing for the certification, he may receive a good or excellent grade on several tests. This approach should allow us to harmonize the general work and have an impartial image,” explained Arpine Sargsyan.

An officer with a positive result should claim promotion or promotion, and in case of a negative result, the police officer’s promotion is restricted.

With another change, it is proposed to extend the requirement of training to junior and senior police officers. In this context, taking into account the specificity of the post of police chief, a training opportunity is planned.

The mechanism of certification of rescue workers and police officers is being harmonized. In the case of the police, two months after being appointed to the position, a person can apply for certification, and in the case of the rescue service, after 6 months. It is recommended to provide another two months rule in the case of rescue workers.

At the level of the Minister’s order, a schedule for conducting the certification will also be provided for those officers of the first stage who have not yet managed to pass the certification due to a number of structural changes that have occurred in the police system.

It should be noted that the educational complex of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is a higher educational institution under civil administration.

Performance is proposed to come into force on 1 January 2027 so that the performance assessment indicator can be tested before then.

In a related report, Andranik Kocharyan, chairman of the Standing Committee on Defense and Security Affairs, expressed his opinion that the most important initiative from the point of view of personnel policy was presented. According to him, the performance evaluation system will give the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs the opportunity to appear on the promotion lists. The Ministry will create a system, appearing on the promotion list will depend on the correct implementation and evaluation of performance procedures.

Minister Arpine Sargsyan, answering the questions of the deputies, clarified some regulations of the legislative package. Then the MPs raised a number of issues in the police system, which related to the mechanisms of evaluation of the work of the officers, the salary policy, the amount of bonuses, the training of the police and other issues.

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