Interior Ministry proposes police recruitment reform

PanARMENIAN.Net - As part of police reforms, the Interior Ministry has circulated a draft amendment to the "On Police Service" law, which, if adopted, will eliminate the current upper age limit of 35 for joining the force.

Under this change, all Armenian citizens aged 18 and older who are proficient in Armenian and meet the police’s personal, professional, educational, physical, and health requirements will be eligible for service. Male applicants will still be required to have completed compulsory military service, reports Aysor.am .

Additionally, the reform expands employment opportunities for civilians. Specifically, individuals with at least a bachelor's degree who complete relevant training at the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) academy will be eligible for appointment as community police officers, alongside regular police personnel.

Graduates of the training will receive the rank of police lieutenant. If they successfully complete further professional certification, they will be entitled to additional pay along with their salary. For instance, a community police officer who earns the lieutenant rank and achieves top certification will receive a total monthly salary of approximately AMD 500,000 .

This legislative initiative is based on international best practices and broad public consensus, incorporating citizen proposals and feedback.