Skopje, 27 December 2021 (MIA) – Procuring new uniforms, reducing incriminations, uncovering corruption, reconstructing 69 police buildings and preventing drug trafficking are some of the activities Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski told the press about at Monday’s end-of-year briefing. He underlined that the security situation in the country and region in 2021 was stable and no serious safety threats were registered. Spasovski added that in the period January-November 2021 some 20,000 incidents were reported nationwide, of which 62% have been resolved. According to the Minister, police officers in 2021 were successful in preventing arms trafficking, registering a 23.4% increase in the number of uncovered offences. Moreover, he noted, as a result of increased police control the number of road accidents and fatalities has gone down Spasovski also briefed reporters that 36.5% less migrants crossed North Macedonia’s borders illegally in 2021 and as a result, the number of new asylum requests has gone down by 70%. The Minister said that police officers in 2022 are going to get a 5% pay rise, as well as bonuses for working overtime in 2021. He also announced that more police stations are going to be built and reconstructed over the course of next year, adding that the new forensic unit building will be completely finished and equipped by the end of 2022. Next year, according to Spasovski, one of the Interior Ministry’s helicopters will be equipped with firefighting tools.