Prime Minister Ratas at the 100th anniversary of the police: Estonians’ high level of confidence in the police is a great acknowledgement

17 November 2018 – 6.30 p.m.

Stenbock House, 17 November 2018 – “Living in Estonia has become safer year by year, and it is largely the result of the long, hard work of the fine people of the Police and Border Guard Board,” Prime Minister Jüri Ratas said in his welcome speech at the 100th anniversary of the Police and Border Guard Board.

The prime minister noted that after the restoration of independence, the capability of the Estonian police has improved comprehensively. “The Police and Border Guard Board is a modern organisation, which is recognised by its domestic partners as well as partners in international organisations and in other countries. However, the most important thing is that the Estonian people have placed great trust in them, which is a testament to the fact that the work of the Estonian police involves the whole society,” Ratas said.

“The Police and Border Guard Board have had to change a lot over the years, and these changes came at a price. I hope that in the future, the discourse will focus on how to keep good people, find new employees, and value and encourage each one of them,” the prime minister said.

The Estonian Police was established on 12 November 2018. By the summer of 1940, there were nine prefectures in the country: Tallinn–Harju, Tartu–Valga, Viljandi–Pärnu, Petseri–Võru, Saare, Lääne, Viru–Järva, Narva, and Railroads prefecture. The re-establishment process of the Estonian Police began during the Soviet occupation. On 1 March 1991, the Estonian Police was officially re-established. Today, the Police and Border Guard Board employs nearly 5,000 people to ensure our security.