To change the perceptions about people in uniform...
Ulan Baizhanov: We want to change the perceptions about people in uniform
Academy of Law Enforcement under the General Prosecutor's Office functions more than a year. During this period, neither journalists nor the public were particularly interested in its activities until recently, when the news of the imminent change of speed limits in cities of Kazakhstan was announced. Exhausted from variety of innovations drivers were frustrated by the news of 50 kilometers per hour. Is this proposal all that has been done in the academy for today? The rector of the Academy of Law Enforcement under the General Prosecutor’s Office, Ulan Baizhanov, answers this and other question in an interview to Today.kz.
- Ulan Saparovich, not all are aware of the activities of the Academy, please tell us about its work. Who studies there? And, most importantly, why?
- The Academy consists of three institutions (inter-ministerial Research Institute, Institute of postgraduate education and professional development, the Institute for Strategic Development and Information Systems - author's note.). In one of them law enforcement officers are taught in graduate programs, doctoral PhD, as well as some training and special initial training. Moreover, in the academy, courses are held by representatives of the presidential reserve of law enforcement leadership. Students of the Academy are officers of the prosecutor's office, the service of economic investigations and anti-corruption services. Ministry of Interior Affairs has its own system of departmental academies, but for the police management staff, its representatives are trained here. It conducts scientific research and takes actions to ensure interagency coordination of research in the field of law enforcement. It cooperates with leading scientific and educational organizations, such as the Nazarbayev University, the Academy of General Prosecutor's Office of Russian Federation, as well as with specialized universities in Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Turkey and South Korea.
“There are many good people among us, there is no need to blame everybody”- You have recently presented a proposal for the reform of the training system for law enforcement. What is its meaning?
- This initiative reflects the essence of the project "Road to the profession." We have studied the experience of training lawyers in OECD countries, where, as we know, the requirements are quite strict. World experience shows that one cannot become a lawyer without long and hard training and examinations. Also we have conducted an analytical study of the current state of the domestic legal education. Academy developed a conceptually new approach to the reform of the training system for law enforcement. It will acquire more prepared young professionals for the service. The Academy will be a key element of the implemented changes.
The new model of training ("specialty" or "legal internship") is designed for two years. The first year is dedicated to special disciplines, the second – direct practice for the prosecutor's office, Economic Investigations Service and National Bureau.
Mandatory requirement in the selection of the candidate will be recommended by the authoritative officer (political or public figure), in the long term - a mentor. Similar requirements are established for candidates for the judiciary, for representatives of the presidential reserve and corpus A. The training is based on two trends. First - replenishment and improvement of professional skills. The second - the development of personal competencies (soft skills), to impart communicative skills, public speaking skills, use of advanced information technologies. After that the Academy graduate will receive a certificate of competence as an essential component of the Diploma. It will contain a detailed description and recommendations for work.
- A young employee, graduate of faculty of law, barely entering the service, gets to your training. What for? He had just graduated from university, he should do some work before that.
- Law enforcement is a specific sphere. As it usually happens: a young specialist comes and everyone is busy, nobody has time for him and the newly formed employee is required, for example, to go to court to support the public prosecution. Fault on his part is not excluded.
We have almost every other institution producing lawyers, Kazakhstan ranks first in terms of number of specialists of this profile per 100 thousand inhabitants. The main question is - who teaches them?
- That is, questioning the quality of education at civilian universities, you have decided to isolate them and to educate employees of the new formation by the forces of the Academy?
- Of course not. Together with our colleagues we actively get acquainted with the experience of various educational institutions. Recently we have signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Kazakh State University, we are going to hold classes on the basis of its forensic institute; We work closely with the Academy of the National Security Committee - a teacher from there teaches a course on tactics of negotiations with terrorists; working together with the Nazarbayev University, National University of Defense our students have access to the equipment of the leading modern universities and lectures of experts from abroad.
- I will ask your question, but in relation to the academy. Who teaches there? Is there any notable practitioners among the teachers since you emphasize on the practical part?
- Yes. We employ experienced, qualified professionals, including public administrators. For example, master classes on a regular basis, are conducted by the deputy head of the NSC Nurgali Bilisbekov, ex-chairman of the State Revenue Committee, the current deputy chairman of the NSC Daulet Yergozhin, former Interior Minister Kairbek Suleimenov, Chairman of Committee on legal statistics and special accounts of the General Prosecutor’s Office Saule Aitpaeva, first deputy and deputy secretary of Security Council Marat Shaikhutdinov and Azamat Abdymomunov and other well-known coaches. Along with them, British experts involved in the EU project "Enhancing Criminal Justice in Kazakhstan” also teach our personnel.
- Lately, people talk a lot about the need for the formation of leadership qualities for law enforcement officers. Let us not hide the fact that in the society the police / prosecutor / employees of National Bureau and Economic Investigation Service do not enjoy an ideal image. It is terrifying to imagine what will happen if they will take courses on leadership and their ambition will grow.
- Here, I would like to note the following: The foundations of these courses are laid entirely differently. I believe that leaders must be. All successful and great deeds are performed under the supervision of the recognized leaders. The law enforcement system, including the prosecutor's office, police, EIS, the anti-corruption office, the guard, employs about 150 thousand people. And the cases you are talking about, and that media reports are at most 50. Can we say that all law enforcement officers are bad people? Among our colleagues there are a lot of great people! Do not blame it on everybody.
We are currently working on the introduction of moral and ethical standards for law enforcement officers. We want to change the perceptions about people in uniform. Our most important strategic goal is the due public trust. It's not accomplished in one year, but we have to start from somewhere.
- Large repercussions occurred out of the conceptualization of road safety presented by the representatives of the Academy, in particular the proposal to introduce a speed limit of cars in urban areas to 50 kilometers per hour.
- This is taken out of context information. We must look at the concept in its complex - it is actually thoroughly-designed (the full version of the project concept, see here). The speed limit is only one element of it.
We have deliberately made the message in the form of an interview with Director of the Institute one of the newspapers, to "feel" the public opinion. I believe that the reduction of speed limits in urban areas up to 50 kilometers an hour is a great idea. It is so in the whole world. Scientific evidence shows that at this speed car distance from the pedestrian based on the reaction time is shortened to eight meters. In urban areas it will save the life of a pedestrian. It is not less important that the capacity of the two-lane road in a range of 50-60 kilometers per hour does not change, it is confirmed by studies of foreign scientists.
In addition, every driver knows that the average speed in the city, taking into account stops at traffic lights and others is not more than 30 kilometers per hour. That is, the reduction of the limit of only 10 kilometers per hour will not affect the travel time.
- Presentation of the concept is accompanied by comments on the need to change the city's infrastructure. What does it mean? You say, for example, about the roundabouts, do you mean its installation to existing roads or when building new ones?
- I do not think it is difficult to implement on existing roads. Nothing too complicated.
Today, number of lanes on the roads grow. Yes, this is intended to increase the capacity and reduce the specific load on the road network. But, in fact, it is directly contrary to the interests of pedestrians. One needs to plan and construct roads in such a way that the drivers exceeding the speed limit would find it uncomfortable.
The most popular measure in the world is a "calming movement" (traffic calming), for example, in Switzerland, six-lane road near the intersection becomes a four-lane, and in the critical areas, generally, two-lane.
“Many Kazakhstanis feel undignified to travel to work by public transport”What are the technical solutions for the "calming movement"? The most advanced country in the respective systems is Sweden for 15 years, thanks to the program "Vision zero" deaths on roads reduced twice. Pedestrian safety islands narrowing the street and creating a safe space for pedestrians, and elevated pedestrian crossings. Separately should be said about the narrower angles of rotation. Sharper turns require that drivers slow down in front of them. Benefits of calming movement are a lot. What is important is that, in the end, we achieve the necessary redistribution of traffic flows on the territory of the city.
Improving the road network requires a relatively low cost. The main value is human life. And we are increasing the number of lanes ...
- How many lives car accidents take in Kazakhstan?
- Today Kazakhstan 15 people per 100 thousand inhabitants are killed on the roads. We are talking about people who have died at the scene. Those who die in hospitals are even more. As a result of an accident, died my close friend LL.D. Gaziz Syrbaevich Maulenov, he was 56. He could live up to so much more.
We want to reduce the death rate from traffic accidents up to six people per 100 thousand population by 2020. This is the main task of the National Highway Traffic Safety concept.
- In relation to the traffic issues, the responsibility of several ministries and departments. Will all show enthusiasm?
- To change the situation, we need political will. In addition to the road network, it is the road quality issues, cars and many other things, which are the competence of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Health and Social Development, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Investment and Development, Ministry of National Economy, and local government offices. So, we propose to introduce the institution authorized for road safety, which would coordinate the work.
In general, I should note that the concept was the result of our significant research in the field of road safety. We sought to identify systemic problems that prevent to reduce the number of accidents, suggest ways to minimize their effects.
All stakeholders supported the concept. The interdepartmental working group was set up last April, since, we conducted 16 meetings, at each step carefully studied the conclusions and suggestions, subsequently organized a "round table". It was attended by the Ambassador of Sweden, public figures, businessmen and it was a fruitful meeting lasting four hours.
- At what stage is everything now? Is the concept ready for inclusion in the government?
- In fact, it is ready. Now we expect the final proposals and comments from local government offices. Next, we plan to prepare a program of implementation and to present it to the Cabinet.
Introduction of the concept does not mean its instant execution. The concept is a vision of how to do. Perhaps, based on it, there will be a program for 20-30 years. Let it be. We will applaud.
- Taunts in social networks were about the idea of moving civil servants to public transport, which the concept supposedly provides. What can you say about this?
- See, in Astana and Almaty cars are often used on the principle of one-man per machine (the driver). This overrides both urban and suburban roads. Many Kazakhstanis feel undignified to travel to work by public transport. And the condition of the last is not always contributing to the desire to use the services. There is an alternative - cycling and walking. And here again the question of traffic safety and road network devices come into play. We must break the stereotypes and to create appropriate conditions to alternative methods of transportation.
The concept proposed stimulation of movement in groups in metropolitan areas and the use of public transport (and other alternative modes of travel) on the streets with low bandwidth. For example, we at the academy acquired a minibus for our employees. Now, people do not come in dozens of machines to work and go home together on the bus.
“Reducing speed limit to 50 kilometers per hour in cities is a wonderful idea”- Another major initiative of the Academy is the idea of creating a regional hub to counter global threats. To those go terrorism, arms trafficking, financial, drug, cyber and other crimes. Countering them all, the law enforcement agencies of Central Asian countries, by design, will be taught on the basis of the Kazakh Academy. How will it work? Won’t the Academy grow up to unwieldy bureaucracy?
- Nobody is going to separately build something. The project is rather virtual. The basis of this idea one main principle: learning is not shameful, it is necessary to learn. The Head of State has set clear objectives to the Academy - training and the formation of a fundamentally new cohort of experts for law enforcement. What does it mean? It means that the forms and methods of education must also be new. From the very first day in the academy, I was thinking about what exactly should they be. Thanks to my experience in the international sphere I, in particular, know the nuances of the implementation of relevant UN projects. Then I thought, why should not they be implemented on the same site?
When we talk about the creation of a regional hub, we do not mean the construction of a huge complex, and the implementation of projects of international organizations on the same site. This would allow us to explore the best practices to counter threats to adopt teaching methods, research programs, products, achievements and more.
- How does the scheme of implementation of such projects work?
- The organization has the money provided by donor countries. There are common objectives, plan for the funds and the range of activists willing to help to implement it.
We propose to change the algorithm. I went to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, held talks there. We intend to form the actual needs of professionals ourselves, namely which subjects, workshops, programs; receive in advance, lecture materials, make proposals for their improvement. As consumers we are served first. To avoid coming of some John Smith, far from our realities, teach unnecessary lectures and leave.
- I wish you success in your endeavors! Thanks for the interview, congratulations with your professional holiday, Day of the prosecutor's office.
- Thank you, best of luck to you as well.
Author: Dana Saudegerova
Translated into English: Zhanibek Mursalim
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