Ruks: Number of crimes by migrants in Latvia not increasing, but police must not relax

Armands Ruks, the head of the State Police, stated on Thursday in the Latvian Radio program “Krustpunktā” that statistics do not show an increase in crimes committed by migrants. He noted that four cases involving Indian nationals have been recorded, but most criminal offenses are committed by Russian and Ukrainian citizens. There have also been isolated cases involving nationals of Uzbekistan, Moldova, Pakistan, and other countries.

Currently, the biggest problems are administrative violations, such as traffic offenses, Ruks emphasized. These figures do not allow for complacency but rather encourage focusing on the future to prevent criminal expressions by third-country nationals. The police chief recalled that according to criminology and Western experience, if large foreign diasporas become established in a country, it is only a matter of time before crime risks may increase.

Ruks also stressed that police, together with other services, are conducting enhanced checks on foreigners, especially in the capital.