Local police services to be abolished in Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz – The Mazhilis approved in the second reading a bill aimed at reducing bureaucracy within the police force. This move follows the presidential decree from April 13, 2022, on cutting red tape in government agencies.
One of the key changes is the removal of the term “local police service” (LPS) from legislation. The LPS was established in 2016 but, according to developers, failed to effectively fulfill its duties. Instead of focusing on maintaining order and preventing offenses, the police often handled secondary tasks, such as overseeing landscaping or waste removal.

“The Ministry of Internal Affairs proposes to reorganize the LPS and the administrative police department by creating two separate departments: one for crime prevention and another for public safety. Each service will focus on its direct responsibilities,” the Mazhilis statement said.

The bill also introduces some terminological changes. For example, police units on transport will no longer be called "linear police". Military-investigative bodies will be fully separated into an independent structure, no longer part of territorial police units.
The local police service was created in Kazakhstan in 2016 and reported to both the executive authorities and the public. Its duties included maintaining law and order, preventing offenses, ensuring road safety, and combating crime.
The LPS included precinct police officers and their assistants, juvenile police, school inspectors, units protecting women from violence, as well as environmental and road patrol police.
LPS leaders were required to report to akims and maslikhats at least twice a year, while precinct officers had to report quarterly to residents of their districts.