Building a truly sharp, elite and modern Criminal Police Force: Stepping up the application of science and technology to combat crime in the new era

1. Historical Foundation and Achievements

The Criminal Police Force is a component of the People’s Police Force and the People’s Public Security Forces, a key armed force of the Party and State. It serves as the core, specialized force in the fight against crimes infringing upon social order, directly confronting the most sophisticated and dangerous criminals to safeguard the peaceful and happy lives of the people.

Following the success of the August Revolution in 1945, amid the myriad challenges faced by the nascent revolutionary government, the Ministry of the Interior (now the Ministry of Public Security) issued Decree No. 121-NV/NĐ on April 18, 1946, regarding the organizational structure of the Vietnam Public Security Service. Accordingly, the Criminal Police Force was established at both central and local levels under various names such as “Area Reconnaissance Teams,” “Criminal Police Teams,” and “Administrative Security Boards.” Their mission was to maintain order, prevent illegal acts, and investigate offenders for prosecution. This milestone marked the birth of the force, and since then, April 18 has been recognized as the Founding Day of the Criminal Police.

Over 80 years of development, the Criminal Police Force has remained absolutely loyal to the Party and the Fatherland. During the resistance wars against French and American aggressors, the force stood shoulder to shoulder with other public security units to combat crime, protect the rear, and contribute to national liberation.

In the era of Đổi Mới (Renewal), the Criminal Police Force has proactively innovated, combining traditional methods with modern technology; integrating reconnaissance and investigation with data analysis, digital forensics, and inter-agency coordination. As a result, numerous major cases have been dismantled, dangerous criminal networks eliminated, and new criminal methods addressed in a timely manner. Notably, the rate of crimes against social order has steadily decreased; in 2025 alone, the figure dropped by 25.11% compared to 2024, strengthening public trust and attracting international investment and tourism.

2. Strategic tasks for Criminal Police in the new era

The 14th National Party Congress emphasized the goal of “significantly reducing the crime rate and moving toward a society free of crime, accidents and social evils.” General Secretary To Lam has also highlighted the need for a police force that masters technology, serving as “the pride of the people and the fear of criminals.” To fulfill this noble responsibility, the Criminal Police Force must focus on the following key tasks:

First: Building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern force. In the context of the rapid technological revolution, the boundary between traditional and high-tech crime is blurring. Fraud, extortion, gambling, "black credit" (usury), and human trafficking now leverage social media and cross-border applications.

Modern crime is characterized by:

"Deterritorialization": Operating across borders via digital platforms and foreign servers.

"Anonymization": Using encryption, virtual accounts, and cryptocurrencies to hide illicit money flows.

"Service-based Ecosystems": Organized groups where each cell handles a specific stage (data provision, money laundering, etc.) in a professional chain.

Against this backdrop, the force must:

Shift mindsets: Moving from "reactive response" to "proactive detection and forecasting."

Strict discipline: Building a force characterized by the "Three Bests": Most Disciplined – Most Loyal – Most Attached to the People.

Modernize capabilities: Mastering digital investigations, financial tracking, and biometric identification. We must gradually develop "digital combat capabilities" by applying Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict criminal trends and support investigations.

Foster specialized training: Enhancing expertise in transnational crime, investigative psychology, and international legal cooperation.

Second: Improving the effectiveness of crime prevention and control. The force must strictly implement targets for the sustainable reduction of crimes against social order. We must intensify crackdowns on criminal gangs, especially those "disguised as businesses."

We will focus on:

Standardizing procedures: Eliminating information fragmentation and overlapping operations.

Perfecting legal frameworks: Proposing improvements to laws regarding digital evidence, electronic signatures, and the recovery of digital assets.

Maximizing efforts to prevent and fight crimes: Developing "crime-free communes" by mobilizing the entire political system and the public to join efforts to prevent and combat crimes.

Promoting international cooperation: Strengthening ties with INTERPOL and regional law enforcement to combat transnational crime "from early on and from afar."

The proud 80-year tradition of the Criminal Police Force, forged through sacrifice and intelligence, is an invaluable asset. Under the absolute leadership of the Party, and with a spirit of innovation, daring to think and daring to act, the Criminal Police Force will continue to serve as the “Steel Fist” in the fight against crime, worthy of the trust of the Party, State, and People.

Second, to improve the effectiveness of crime prevention and control related to social order. This includes strictly implementing targets for reducing crime, intensifying crackdowns on organized crime and crimes disguised as legitimate businesses, and promoting models of “crime-free communes.”

The force must strengthen intelligence gathering, forecasting, and early intervention; improve legal frameworks for digital evidence and cross-border cooperation; standardize procedures; enhance data sharing; and eliminate fragmented or overlapping operations.

International cooperation with law enforcement agencies, including Interpol and regional mechanisms, must be strengthened to combat transnational crime effectively.

The proud tradition of the Criminal Police force — forged through intelligence, sacrifice, and dedication — is an invaluable asset and a foundation for continued advancement. Carrying forward this legacy requires new thinking, methods, technologies, and high-quality personnel, with a strong spirit of initiative and discipline.

Under the absolute leadership of the Party, and building on 80 years of tradition, with renewed determination and innovation, the Criminal Police force will continue to achieve outstanding successes, truly serving as a “steel fist” in the fight against crime in the new era, worthy of the trust of the Party, the State, and the people.