The comprehensive strategic plan for the reform of law enforcement agencies, as part of the security and defence sector of Ukraine for 2023-2027 will allow to modernise the security sphere and bring it into compliance with the standards that Ukraine must achieve on the way to EU membership.It was the result of the work of the Interdepartmental Working Group, which was created in accordance with the order of the Prosecutor General on November 11, 2022. With the participation of law enforcement agencies, prosecutor's offices and in cooperation with international partners, the project of the Comprehensive Strategic Plan was developed and approved.

"The plan outlines existing challenges that need to be resolved. This is both the delimitation of competence and the elimination of duplication of functions and the optimisation of criminal proceedings, ensuring accountability and transparency, strengthening the mechanisms of democratic civil control, etc.

The plan also describes innovations without the introduction of which strengthening the country's security in modern conditions is impossible. These include digitalisation of processes, application of result-oriented approaches, access of law enforcement officers to automated information systems, application of a risk-oriented approach, strategic forecasting and so on.

Thanks to the implementation of the latest work methods, it is possible to change the basic philosophy of the law enforcement function and to re-configure the work from the disclosure of already committed offences to their prejudice", - noted the director the ESBU , Vadym Melnyk.

Based on the results of the work, six strategic priorities for the reform of law enforcement agencies as part of the security and defence sector of Ukraine were formulated.

Strategic priorities:

1. The effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement agencies and the prosecutor's office, as an integral component of the security and defence sector, within which they ensure the national security of Ukraine, including public safety and order, crime prevention taking into account strategic goals and in accordance with human rights standards, basic rights and freedoms, as well as the principles of gender equality.

Ensuring the further development of the system of law enforcement agencies should be carried out on the basis of the application of risk- oriented approaches, information and analytical orientation, strategic management and forecasting.

2. A consistent criminal policy, the priority of which is the prevention of crime, the inevitability of responsibility, the protection of the individual, society and the state from criminal offences, ensuring the interests of the victim.

3. Promptness of criminal proceedings in compliance with international standards and the principle of the rule of law.

4. A management system oriented to the result in accordance with the established priorities.

5. Comprehensive digital transformation.

6. Openness, transparency, accountability, independence and political neutrality.

The draft of the Comprehensive strategic plan, developed by the participants of the interdepartmental working group, will be submitted to the office of the President of Ukraine for consideration.

A detailed list of tasks, measures, qualitative and quantitative indicators, expected results of further reform of law enforcement agencies will be reflected in the operational plan adopted for the implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Plan, which is subject to periodic updating.

For reference. The Comprehensive Strategic Plan applies to the prosecutor's office, the National Police of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the State Bureau of Investigation, the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine and the State Customs Service of Ukraine.

The members of the interagency group include the heads of the Prosecutor General's Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Bureau of Investigation, the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine, the National Police of Ukraine, the State Border Service, the State Customs Service, as well as representatives of the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Cabinet Ministers of Ukraine, international experts of the Consultative Mission of the European Union (EUAM Ukraine), the EU Project Pravo-Justice, the Office of the Council of Europe in Ukraine, the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO).