The Minister said that the internal affairs services were ready to work for Latvia. “If needed, we'll do it. But how long will it be at the expense of employees?” Eklons said. The number of vacancies is increasing every year in all internal security structures. It will soon reach 25% in the State Police, while the State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) and the State Border Guard lack around 12% to 13% of employees.
Eklons said that the lack could not be observed on the street, but it will be noticed when an offender needs to be apprehended. The absence of VUGD vacancies is more apparent, due to the temporary closure of 18 stations
In response to how much money was needed to address the situation, Eklons said that long-term changes were needed, not a one-off allocation of money. He said: “We've put patches on wounds where surgical intervention is needed.”
The Minister said that there was a need for permanent funding. According to him, it is necessary to allocate at least 2.5% of gross domestic product to the home affairs sector in order to take a targeted approach, which should continue for the next 10 years.
