MPS leader requests more drastic fight against environmental offences

Deputy Minister of Public Security Lieutenant General Nguyen Duy Ngoc attended an online conference held by the Environmental Police Department (EPD) under the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) on January 10 in Hanoi to review the environmental police force’s task performance over the past year and roll out its work program for 2022.

In 2021, the environmental police force successfully investigated some 27,000 cases of environmental offences, of which 370 were prosecuted and 24,000 cases were paid nearly VND 360 billion of fine in total.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the local-level environmental police units actively joined the fight against the  pandemic in localities while taking measures to prevent and control environmental offences, illegal exploitation of natural resources, and monitoring food safety.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister Nguyen Duy Ngoc praised the achievements in the past year of the DEC in particular, and of the environmental police force nationwide in general.

Regarding the force’s key missions in 2022, the deputy minister asked the department to drastically fight against environmental offences of all types, focus on food safety monitoring and forecast environmental problems that may affect society and people's lives.

The MPS leader requested the department to coordinate closely with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to enhance its State management of environment, natural resources, and food safety as well as pay attention to expanding international cooperation in environmental protection.

The environmental police force should effectively suppress environmental crimes and strengthen food safety monitoring before, during and after the 2022 Lunar New Year, Deputy Minister Ngoc asked.