COLUMN | Ministry of Public Security: How to Avoid a Disaster

Much more important than having a Ministry of Public Security is having a public security strategy that is part of a national security strategy.

The idea of a Ministry of Public Security sounds very appealing, especially when insecurity is the main problem for Chileans, which is why few in the political world care whether it is the 25th ministry or whether its existence implies greater expenses or an increase in the public budget, something that literally falls on Moya, meaning each one of us.

Where people go wrong is falling into the trap of believing that simply having a ministry dedicated to public security will end crime and criminal activity that affects us, which is what the government, and particularly Minister Tohá, is conveying, presenting it as the great solution to the ills that affect us. We already know that the existence of the Ministry of Economy does not ensure that the country will grow more, or that having a Ministry of Agriculture will end droughts, and that it will rain when and how farmers wish.

Much more important than having a Ministry of Public Security is having a public security strategy that is part of a national security strategy. A strategy implies having clarity about the diagnosis, means, and strategy for using those means, and, above all, objectives and goals to achieve. It seems that the government and the political system in general are putting the cart before the horse, something they do more frequently than desired.

As the government and the political system have ignored the recommendations of experts in security matters, and those who understand government organizations and the deficiencies of the Chilean political model, we hope they will accept some suggestions so that the Ministry generates added value, one that does not produce less security than we currently have, and that does not end up in the category of administrative political error like the creation of governors or the elimination of the binomial system.

Since the Ministry of Public Security is already law, the following recommendations could be considered to ensure it is effective in its work when it becomes a reality in 2025:

1. Have a public security strategy in place before the ministry begins its functions, which clearly outlines the role and functions of this organization.
2. Review the dependency of the National Intelligence Agency (ANI), as it has been indicated that it will report to the Ministry of the Interior. Along with this, efforts should be made to advance the new intelligence law, and to provide more resources to the ANI, as well as operational roles. Our public security system needs more and better intelligence; otherwise, it will continue to be highly ineffective.
3. While it is true that coordination of others’ efforts can always be pursued, in the case of public security, having control rather than just coordination is beneficial, and in this sense, in addition to the ANI, it would also be good for it to report to the Prison Service, leaving the Maritime Police, Customs, the Internal Revenue Service, the Financial Analysis Unit, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the Courts in a mode of coordination, but with the understanding that they are part of the public security system, and therefore coordinated and directed by the ministry for relevant purposes.
4. The expected increase in effectiveness may be minimal if there are no increases in the capabilities of the police, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the courts, as the main bottlenecks lie with those mentioned, and if not resolved, nothing will happen, and no improvements will be noticed.
5. It is essential to be precise regarding the role of the regional secretaries of public security and the provincial departments that will report to them. The police already have their own lines of command and working schemes with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, so it is unclear how the regional secretaries will be useful, and the same applies to the presidential delegates. Processes and systems should strive to be as simple as possible, free of unnecessary complexities. In this sense, creating an organization that seems more aimed at pleasing everyone is not the path to success.
6. As a final recommendation, please hire specialist consultants in processes, systems, dashboards, strategy, and whatever is necessary to have something that functions adequately, including adjustments to the initially envisioned structure.

I know that there are those who approved the bill for the Ministry of Security with the hope of improving it later and before it starts operating. I know they did not have a good opinion of the government’s proposal, and that they voted in favor perhaps due to political pressures, but now the time has come to be responsible and work on the aspects that need improvement. Minister Tohá will not be in the next government and will not be held accountable for its proper administration and operation.