Article 1: New vitality in An Khanh

Authorities under the Hanoi City Police have implemented a comprehensive range of solutions in the state management of businesses operating under conditions related to security and order, especially in inspecting and handling unlicensed karaoke establishments, singing services, bars, pubs, and lounges.

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Implementing a two-tiered local government model, Van Con commune, formerly in Hoai Duc district, was merged into the new An Khanh commune. Given the complex situation in the area, the Director of the Hanoi City Police Department decisively directed professional units, led by the Administrative Management and Social Order Police Department, to coordinate with the An Khanh Commune Police to implement comprehensive and effective measures and solutions to thoroughly address violations, creating a clear transformation in the area.

Changes resulting from police intervention.

Before the merger, I had visited Phuong Quan village, formerly Van Con commune – identified as one of the city's key and complex areas regarding the operation of businesses with security and order requirements and the existence of many legal violations. However, upon returning to Phuong Quan and Quyet Tien villages – formerly Van Con commune (now An Khanh commune), we felt a new face here.

The An Khánh commune police are intensifying inspections and controls in the area to ensure security and order.

The inter-village road is no longer bustling with taxis carrying passengers, nor are there young men clutching walkie-talkies, their eyes constantly scanning for strangers passing by. Along both sides of the road, the houses that were once hotspots for entertainment are now closed and locked; moss has begun to grow on the eaves, and layers of yellow leaves are accumulating... Beside them, excavators are working at full capacity to demolish illegally constructed houses encroaching on agricultural land.

Lieutenant Colonel Sai Van Thanh, Deputy Head of An Khanh Commune Police, and officers from the Administrative Management and Social Order Department of the Hanoi City Police took me on a tour around Phuong Quan and Quyet Tien villages (formerly part of Van Con commune), sharing further: With the determination to clean up the area of ​​Phuong Quan village, former Van Con commune in particular, and An Khanh commune in general, the professional departments and An Khanh Commune Police have decisively, synchronously, and comprehensively implemented solutions and measures ranging from public administrative management, inspection, and handling of violations combined with launching a movement for all citizens to participate in detecting and reporting crimes…

To date, significant improvements have been observed in An Khanh commune. Many businesses that violated regulations have voluntarily ceased operations or dismantled their structures; the situation of open and complex operations as before is no longer present. Currently, there are no longer any businesses operating under conditions related to security and order in An Khanh commune; no illegal construction on encroached land, agricultural land, or project land; and the previously problematic operations that caused public concern and security issues have been largely brought under control and resolved.

Following raids by law enforcement, to evade detection, the perpetrators operate with more sophisticated methods and tactics. Specifically, the establishments are closely linked; using walkie-talkies, forming private Zalo groups, each group consisting of about 30-50 establishments, assigning people to stand guard at the headquarters of relevant agencies, taking turns performing security duties… When one establishment is inspected, the others immediately temporarily cease operations or increase vigilance, reducing the surprise nature of the inspection,” said Lieutenant Colonel Khuat Hong Son, Deputy Head of the Administrative Police Department for Social Order, Hanoi City Police.

These establishments only accept regular customers or those who have made reservations in advance, through intermediaries, often familiar taxi or motorbike taxi drivers. Before customers enter, the establishments usually station lookouts outside, using walkie-talkies to communicate; they only open the doors when they determine the area is safe and immediately lock them again to avoid surprise inspections...

This applies to karaoke establishments and lodging facilities suspected of prostitution; their methods and tactics are equally sophisticated, aimed at evading inspection by law enforcement in key areas and hindering verification, investigation, and expansion of the case.

Integrated solutions

Immediately after the Hanoi City Police Department's leadership reorganized its structure, the Administrative Management and Social Order Police Department of the Hanoi City Police Department, in coordination with the An Khanh Commune Police, implemented numerous operational measures in inspection, combating, and handling violations, with the determination to ensure security and order in the area.

The karaoke bars were closed and locked.

According to an officer, the Administrative Management and Social Order Police Department of the Hanoi City Police determined that An Khanh remains a complex area and therefore implemented operational measures, coordinating with the An Khanh Commune Police to monitor the situation. However, the methods used by the perpetrators have become increasingly sophisticated. Explaining this issue, the officer from the Administrative Management and Social Order Police Department of the Hanoi City Police added: These establishments reap huge profits. On average, a karaoke bar with 3-5 rooms can earn hundreds of millions of dong in illegal profits each month...

Therefore, the suspects changed their methods of operation to evade the police, such as not displaying signs, building multiple layers of entrances; colluding with neighboring properties to arrange connecting doors for easy escape during inspections; and installing a camera system around the premises for surveillance…

Some individuals frequently change managers and representatives, even employing people from mountainous provinces with limited legal awareness. With promises of double pay or a percentage of profits without requiring capital investment, and the promise of family support if caught, many naive and trusting individuals agree to register their businesses under their names. Consequently, with insufficient deterrent penalties and the relatively low cost of karaoke equipment, the establishments continue operating normally the next day because the owners remain at large and evade the law.

With the involvement of the police force and the close coordination of the local authorities, An Khánh is now basically stable.

However, "every problem has a solution," and relevant departments, including the Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order, have comprehensively assessed the situation in An Khanh commune after the merger; clarifying the actual operations, methods, and tactics of violations by businesses. At the same time, they mobilized forces to strengthen inspection, detection, and handling of violations at businesses operating under specific conditions… The An Khanh commune police conducted 165 inspections of businesses operating under specific conditions related to security and order.

Through inspections, authorities discovered and handled administrative violations at 33 karaoke establishments; and investigated and arrested individuals involved in 7 cases related to drugs and prostitution. The fact that both the owners of the establishments and the customers involved in prostitution were prosecuted has initially created a deterrent effect, making the perpetrators fearful. With the involvement of the police force and the close cooperation of the local government, An Khánh is now basically stable.

(To be continued)

Xuan Mai

Source: https://cand.vn/bai-1-suc-song-moi-o-an-khanh-post812848.html