Uzbekistan Reforming Public Safety and Policing System

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev was presented with proposals aimed at further improving the national system for ensuring public safety. The head of state emphasized that in modern conditions, maintaining public safety remains a priority task.

To achieve this, the Public Safety Department was established within the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), consolidating the services for crime prevention, public order maintenance, road safety, and probation. This division currently accounts for approximately 30% of the ministry's total personnel. During the presentation, it was noted that managing such a large-scale system requires modern approaches, including the digitalization of processes and a fundamental shift from a "punitive system" to one that "serves the population."

A central focus was placed on organizing preventive work at the mahalla level. Currently, over 10,000 prevention inspectors serve in nearly 9,000 mahallas across the republic. In 2025, these inspectors processed more than 2.5 million citizen appeals, with over 470,000 cases referred to judicial authorities. However, the President highlighted the need to increase efficiency by relieving inspectors of non-core functions, allowing them to concentrate on maintaining law and order and targeted community engagement.

The proposed improvements include the launch of modern digital solutions, such as the "My Inspector" system, and the establishment of electronic data exchanges with relevant institutions. The reforms also envision online briefings, remote professional development, and the formation of public assistant groups to aid safety efforts on the ground. Furthermore, expanding the authority of inspectors to make decisions on specific types of offenses and introducing administrative warnings for minor infractions are expected to enhance response times and public interaction.

Separate attention was given to creating a continuous prevention mechanism. An integrated system will be formed to coordinate efforts between prevention inspectors, school psychologists, and women's affairs specialists, supported by a unified real-time data information system.

The discussion also addressed personnel training, with a new dual-education model proposed for public safety officers. This model integrates theoretical training with practical activity, with the practical component gradually increasing within the MIA educational system. Training will prioritize social prevention, decision-making in unconventional situations, psychological resilience, and communication culture. Students will participate as interns under the supervision of mentors. Following the presentation, President Mirziyoyev approved the proposals and instructed relevant agencies to develop concrete implementation measures.