At the beginning of June, posts appeared on social media from local residents criticising the work of the police mounted unit in the Shchuchinsk-Borovoye resort zone. Citizens expressed concern about the visible activity of the unit, voiced doubts about the effectiveness of its work, and stated that they had never seen patrols on horseback.
In connection with this, the editorial board of the Foundation Bureau for Corruption Investigation (FBCI) sent an official request to the Police Department (PD) of Akmola Region asking it to clarify the activities of the mounted group and provide data on the costs of its upkeep.
In its response, the department confirmed the existence of the mounted group and reported that it was considering the question of its reduction and the sale of 22 horses following an analysis of the costs of maintaining the stables.
CURRENT STATE OF THE UNIT
According to data from the PD of Akmola Region, the mounted group of the patrol police company of the Burabay District Police Department currently includes 9 officers and 22 horses. The stables are located in the village of Molbaza on Zhastar Street, plot 2B, on a site of 1.2 hectares.
As reported by the department, the stable building was constructed in 2019 with a footprint of 1025.7 sq.m and a total area of 866.8 sq.m. The facility is equipped with all necessary utilities.
In posts by local residents, it was mentioned that 238 million tenge was allegedly allocated for the construction of the complex. Open sources from 2018 reported plans to keep around 30 horses. However, in its official response, the department did not confirm this data.
SCOPE OF USE OF THE MOUNTED SERVICE
According to explanations from the police department, the service horses are used to maintain public order in areas where the use of motor vehicles is difficult or impossible.
Specifically, it is noted that mounted police officers patrol resort and summer cottage areas, public recreation zones, work in conditions of autumn and spring mud, and also maintain order during public events.
The mounted group is particularly important in the search for missing persons within the Shchuchinsk-Borovoye resort zone. Using horses, police officers survey hard-to-reach areas of the forest and mountain range.
As reported by the department, in 2023, 16 cases of persons going missing were registered in the Burabay district, and the mounted group was used in the search for them.
PROSPECTS FOR THE UNIT
The Police Department noted that when horses are not used for mounted patrols, the mounted police officers serve to maintain public order and road safety as part of motor vehicle and foot patrols.
This year, following an analysis of the costs of maintaining the stables, the leadership is considering the possibility of reducing the mounted group with the subsequent sale of the horses in accordance with the procedure established by law. A final decision on this matter has not yet been made.
CONCLUSIONS
The official response from the Police Department confirmed the existence of the mounted group, which local residents had doubted was real. However, the plans for the possible reduction of the unit show that questions about the efficiency of using budget funds to maintain the stables remain relevant.
The final decision on the fate of the mounted group will depend on the results of an analysis of the economic viability of its continued operation.