The average police officer in Moscow will see his or her wages more than double as part of wide-reaching reforms of the force, the capital's police chief said in an interview published on Wednesday.
"An ordinary police officer's salary is 23,000-24,000 rubles (around $800) a month. As part of reforms...there are plans to increase this to 60,000 rubles," Vladimir Kolokoltsev told the Rossiiskaya Gazeta government daily.
"We plan to carry out these reforms by the end of next year," he said.
He also said that 12,000 police would be made redundant by the end of next year.
The reputation of the force has declined dramatically in recent years with Russian police officers convicted or charged with burning a suspect to death, shooting sprees, a beheading, and rape in the less than 24 months.
Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev used his annual Police Day address last November to remind police chiefs that officers should point their weapons at criminals, and not aim them at law-abiding citizens. Shortly after this, he advised ordinary citizens to "give as good as they get" if they are attacked for no reason by officers.
In response to growing criticism of the force, President Dmitry Medvedev ordered a large-scale reform of the Interior Ministry in December 2009 that would trim police numbers and raise salaries in an effort to reduce corruption and attract a better quality of applicant.
MOSCOW, April 28 (RIA Novosti)
