Press Service
Interview of head of transport security department of Ministry of Interior of Russia lieutenant general of militia Vyacheslav Zaharenkov on the Press Service Day of law enforcement bodies
June 10 is the day to celebrate one of the "youngest" holidays within the system of the Ministry of Interior of Russia, the Day of Press Services, information and PR departments of law enforcement bodies. On the eve of the holiday, the head of the transport security department of the Ministry of Interior of Russia lieutenant general of militia Vyacheslav Zaharenkov expressed his opinion on the activity of these units.
- Today, no-one seems ignorant of the importance and relevance of information methods of activity which for today have become a powerful tool in counteraction to criminality.
Our department is always accessible for the press service of our department. There are reasons for the representatives of the mass media to call law enforcement bodies the most open authorities for the society. This fully pertains to the law enforcement bodies of transport as well. Last year the mass media published over 44,000 materials about activity of the transport militia. This includes not only articles, but also announcements, information a television and radio programs contributing to the positive image.
In a number of articles the journalists mention serious problems of our department. What I can promise you is that no such material will be neglected. Special checks are performed and respective decisions made. We do not turn a blind eye to drawbacks and problems. It is always important to solve and prevent problems rapidly. On the other hand, there is a number of positive examples of our activity and it is truly important that such moments in activity of employees should not remain without the mass media coverage.
- Journalists complain they are not always provided the necessary information promptly, particularly when dealing with line units. What are reasons for that?
- We never refuse giving information to anybody; we try to react quickly and positively to all requests of the mass media. But one should consider that that fact that there are matters in the law enforcement activity that are kept secret in the national or service interests. Also, there is investigation secrecy which demands observance of the respective laws in such cases unexceptionally.
I would recommend local departments to build up a journalistic pool from among the most skilled journalists who cover law enforcement subjects and whose point of view on the law enforcement activity is unbiased. They will then need to be assisted in accumulating the relevant information.
- It is no secret that in some cases the mass media utilize a tendentious approach to the work of transport militia accusing employees of all mortal sins inclusive of infringement of rights and freedoms of citizens. Are there any measures which are being taken for strengthening confidential relations between the society and law enforcement officers?
- By his first order in the year 2009 the Minister of Interior of the Russian Federation General of the Army R.G.Nurgaliev approved of the Concept of enhancing the interaction of units within the system of the Ministry of Interior of Russia with mass media and public associations within 2009-2014. The document provides for new aspects of information cooperation inclusive of perfection of interaction with public associations, religious organizations and human rights institutes. This cooperation should be taken advantage of to attract the public interest, to develop unbiased relation to the militia activity, to raise the legal culture. The concept provides for new aspects of information work. One of the priorities is intensive usage of social advertising and modern information technologies.
- Are there anybody who provides voluntary help to transport militia? Are there any latent reserves in terms of public order maintenance within the transport infrastructure?
- I will probably not be mistaken to tell you that the interest towards the transport militia activity is huge. All of us sometimes go by trains, by air or by waterborne vehicles. In this respect integration of efforts of all interested state and municipal authorities, public associations and citizens is important for maintenance of the public order and safety within the transport infrastructure.
In recent years the trade union associations revived the engagement in maintenance of the public order in trains. Student youth movements which operate at special departmental institutions of special higher and average education join representatives of juvenile departments in working with difficult children and are engaged in their patriotic education. Children summer recreation camps are opened at special mission groups where teenagers can develop military and sports skills. In passenger-crowded places, at railway stations and at airports telephone hotlines are installed for everyone to use them.
It is pleasant that this work is appreciated by the passengers. The letters of thanks of citizens addressed to specific transport militia employees published in the magazine "Law and order in transport environment" is the best proof of it.
Press service of the transport security department of the Ministry of Interior of Russia
