Latvian residents feel safe in the country, survey shows

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In April, the Ministry of Interior, in cooperation with the pollster Latvijas fakti, conducted a public opinion survey on security issues. Results show that 87% of the surveyed Latvian residents believe that Latvia is safe to live as a country, the Ministry said in a release May 25. 

The aim of the study was to clarify residents' feelings of safety in different environments, concerns about different security topics and concerns about personal security, as well as experience in dealing with different authorities in the Interior Department and their assessment of the work.

70% of the surveyed residents of Latvia trust the State Fire and Rescue Service, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, the State Border Guard. The majority of the population also trusts the State Police.

In the public view, the most pressing security problems in the country, which were mentioned by more than two-thirds of respondents, are corruption (concerning 74% of the surveyed population of Latvia), the Covid-19 pandemic (71%), financial crimes (70%), organzed crime and cyber crime (66%).

Citizens are also concerned about safety issues such as road safety (63%), trafficking and exploitation of people (57%), civil protection in the event of natural and man-made disasters (54%), influx of immigrants or refugees (51%).

In terms of housing areas, the surveyed residents of Latvia are concerned about child safety (60%), theft (52%), drug trafficking (51%), drunk people (50%).

Nearly half (47%) of those surveyed are partly prepared for emergency or non-standard situations. 28% of the public said they were ready for potential emergencies and non-standard situations by mentioning prepared stocks (matches, candles, flashlights, lighters, radio with spare batteries, gas (alcohol) cookers, medical kits and necessary medicines, food and drinking water reserves, cash). 25% of those surveyed are not prepared for non-standard situations.

The results of the survey will be used to identify strategic priorities for the home affairs sector and to develop the next operational strategy of the Ministry of Interior, as well as the work of the Interior Services. The study was conducted between April 9 and 19, 2021, and surveyed over 1,000 residents.

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