On the morning of 18/4, at the ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the criminal police force's traditional day (18/4/1946), Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, on behalf of Party and State leaders, awarded the Ho Chi Minh Order to the criminal police force and the first-class Feat of Arms Order to the Criminal Police Department, Ministry of Public Security.

The Prime Minister also bestowed the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces upon six collectives and individuals, including Lieutenant General Nguyen Thanh Tung, Director of Hanoi Public Security, the Serious Crime Division of the Criminal Police Department, and the Hanoi Public Security Criminal Police Division.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung presents the Ho Chi Minh Order to the criminal police force. *Photo: VGP*

Given the increasingly complex crime situation, characterized by sophisticated, anonymous, cross-border methods and the use of high technology, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for the force to not only "excel in investigation and quickly solve cases" but also to accurately forecast and advise. The criminal police force must drastically innovate its mindset to both prevent and suppress crime while creating maximum favorable conditions for socio-economic development. It must also promptly advise on policy improvements to eliminate loopholes for criminal activity.

The head of the government requested that the criminal police force "see things through, measuring success by concrete results," and prioritize prevention. They must resolutely avoid being caught off guard by any type of crime, including those employing high technology.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung at the ceremony. *Photo: VGP*

"A criminal police officer must possess a warm heart that loves and protects the people; a cool head to remain clear-headed, objective, uphold the rule of law, and be humane; clean hands to maintain integrity and honor; firm feet to stay connected to the local area and reality; and an open mind to master technology, law, and foreign languages," the Prime Minister stated.

Finally, the Prime Minister noted that the Party, State, and people always "place great trust" in the people's public security force, including the criminal police. He believes the name "criminal police" will forever be a symbol of public trust, the strictness of the law, and "the dread of evil and crime."

The Prime Minister awards the title Hero of the People's Armed Forces to Lieutenant General Nguyen Thanh Tung, Director of Hanoi Public Security. *Photo: CAHN*

Following the victory of the August Revolution in 1945, on 18/4/1946, the Ministry of Interior (now the Ministry of Public Security) issued a decree regulating the organizational structure of the Vietnam Public Security Department. The criminal police force was established from that point.