Circular No. 18/2007/TT-BCT guiding the work of competition and reward for the police force, civilian ward security forces, and the nationwide movement to protect national security.

CIRCULAR

OF THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SECURITY NO. 18/2007/TT-BCT OCTOBER 3, 2007
GUIDELINES ON COMPETITION AND RECOGNITION FOR POLICE FORCES, CITIZEN POLICE, AND THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO PROTECT NATIONAL SECURITY and the nationwide movement for national security preservation

BASED ON THE LAW ON COMPETITION AND RECOGNITION ISSUED ON NOVEMBER 26, 2003 AND THE LAW AMENDING AND COMPLEMENTING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE LAW ON COMPETITION AND RECOGNITION;

BASED ON DECREE NO. 121/2005/NĐ-CP OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 OF THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDING DETAILS AND GUIDANCE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW ON COMPETITION AND RECOGNITION AND THE LAW AMENDING AND COMPLEMENTING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE LAW ON COMPETITION AND RECOGNITION;

BASED ON DECREE NO. 136/2003/NĐ-CP OF NOVEMBER 14, 2003 ON THE FUNCTIONS, TASKS, POWERS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SECURITY;

BASED ON DECREE NO. 40/1999/NĐ-CP OF JUNE 23, 1999 OF THE GOVERNMENT ON RURAL POLICE; DECREE NO. 38/2006/NĐ-CP OF APRIL 17, 2006 OF THE GOVERNMENT ON CITIZEN POLICE;

AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE NATIONAL COMPETITION AND RECOGNITION BOARD, THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SECURITY GUIDES THE AWARDING OF COMPETITION AWARDS TO RURAL POLICE AND CITIZEN POLICE FORCES AND THE COMPETITION AND RECOGNITION WORK FOR THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO PROTECT NATIONAL SECURITY AS FOLLOWS:

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

I. SCOPE OF REGULATION

THIS CIRCULAR GUIDES THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AWARDS AND CRITERIA FOR AWARDING COMPETITION AWARDS TO INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS OF RURAL POLICE AND CITIZEN POLICE (NOT BELONGING TO THE REGULAR POLICE FORCE) IN ACCORDANCE WITH CLAUSE 2, ARTICLE 11 OF GOVERNMENT DECREE NO. 121/2005/NĐ-CP; IT PROVIDES FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF COMPETITION CAMPAIGNS, OBJECTIVES, CRITERIA FOR RECOGNITION FORMS; AUTHORITY, DECISION MAKING FOR AWARDING, PROCEDURES, AND APPLICATIONS FOR RECOGNITION FOR THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO PROTECT NATIONAL SECURITY.

THE REGULAR POLICE FORCE AND STAFF OF THE POLICE DO NOT APPLY THE RECOGNITION UNDER THIS CIRCULAR.

II. PRINCIPLES OF COMPETITION AND RECOGNITION

1. PRINCIPLES OF COMPETITION: VOLUNTARY, SELF-AWARE, TRANSPARENT; COLLABORATIVE, COOPERATIVE, AND MUTUAL DEVELOPMENT. THE AWARDING OF COMPETITION AWARDS MUST BE BASED ON REGISTERED TARGETS AND THE RESULTS OF THE COMPETITION CAMPAIGN. FAILURE TO REGISTER FOR COMPETITION WILL RESULT IN NON-CONSIDERATION FOR AWARDING COMPETITION AWARDS.

2. PRINCIPLES OF RECOGNITION: RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WITH MERIT IN THE CAUSE OF PROTECTING NATIONAL POLITICAL SECURITY AND MAINTAINING SOCIAL ORDER AND SAFETY (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS NATIONAL SECURITY AND ORDER) ENSURING ACCURACY, TRANSPARENCY, FAIRNESS, AND TIMELINESS; BASED ON MERIT AND THE EXTENT OF THE IMPACT OF THE MERIT TO CONSIDER RECOGNITION; MERIT TO THAT DEGREE, RECOGNITION TO THAT DEGREE; ONE RECOGNITION FORM CAN BE AWARDED MULTIPLE TIMES TO ONE SUBJECT, EXCEPT FOR THE MEMORIAL MEDAL "PROTECTING NATIONAL SECURITY," WHICH EACH SUBJECT CAN ONLY RECEIVE ONCE; COMBINE SPIRITUAL ENCOURAGEMENT WITH MATERIAL INCENTIVES; RECOGNIZE SMALL GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS AS THE PRIMARY FOCUS.

3. CASES NOT CONSIDERED OR NOT YET CONSIDERED FOR RECOGNITION.

a) DO NOT CONSIDER OR NOMINATE COMPETITION AWARDS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN AWAY FROM WORK FOR MORE THAN TWO MONTHS IN A YEAR (COUNTING FROM 40 DAYS OR MORE, EXCLUDING LEGALLY ENTITLED LEAVE).

b) DO NOT CONSIDER OR NOMINATE COMPETITION AWARDS FOR GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CURRENTLY UNDER DISCIPLINARY ACTION OR ARE UNDER REVIEW FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION OR LEGAL PROCESS.

c) DO NOT CONSIDER OR NOMINATE COMPETITION AWARDS FOR GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE LEGITIMATE PETITIONS OR REPORTS OF CORRUPTION OR NEGATIVE NEWS IN THE MEDIA THAT HAVE NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED CLEARLY.

PART II
FORMS, CONTENT, AWARDS
AND CRITERIA FOR COMPETITION AWARDS

I. FORMS AND CONTENT OF COMPETITION

1. FORMS OF ORGANIZATION AND SCOPE OF COMPETITION

a) THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SECURITY INITIATES A NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO PROTECT NATIONAL SECURITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ADDITIONALLY, BASED ON THE CHARACTERISTICS AND SITUATIONS OF EACH PERIOD, THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SECURITY MAY INITIATE SPECIAL TOPIC COMPETITION CAMPAIGNS REGARDING NATIONAL SECURITY AND ORDER.

b) HEADS OF POLICE UNITS AND LOCALITIES ADVISE CHAIRS OF PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES AT THE SAME LEVEL AND LEADERS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND UNITS TO LAUNCH AND RECOGNIZE OR RECOMMEND RECOGNITION FOR THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO PROTECT NATIONAL SECURITY AND COMPETITION CAMPAIGNS ON SPECIAL TOPICS REGARDING NATIONAL SECURITY AND ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDANCE FROM SUPERIOR PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES AND POLICE UNITS AND THE CHARACTERISTICS AND SITUATIONS OF THE LOCALITY OR UNIT.

2. MAIN CONTENT OF THE COMPETITION CAMPAIGN: ORGANIZE AND MOTIVATE THE PUBLIC TO ACTIVELY AND VOLUNTARILY COMPLY WITH THE PARTY'S POLICIES AND THE STATE'S LAWS ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND ORDER, PARTICIPATE IN PREVENTION, DETECTION, REPORTING, AND STRUGGLE AGAINST CRIMES AND SOCIAL EVILS, PROTECTING THE STATE'S ASSETS, COLLECTIVE ASSETS, AND THE LIVES AND ASSETS OF CITIZENS; PARTICIPATE IN BUILDING CORE FORCES TO PROTECT NATIONAL SECURITY AND ORDER AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES OF ORGANIZATIONS AND UNITS LAUNCHING COMPETITION CAMPAIGNS

a) BASED ON COMPETITION CAMPAIGNS INITIATED BY SUPERIOR LEVELS, ORGANIZATIONS AND UNITS SHALL DEVELOP PLANS, CLEARLY DEFINE GOALS, SCOPE, OBJECTIVES, TARGETS, SLOGANS, AND METHODS TO IMPLEMENT COMPETITION CAMPAIGNS WITHIN THEIR OWN ORGANIZATIONS AND UNITS;

b) ORGANIZE COMPETITION CAMPAIGNS IN CONJUNCTION WITH LABOR, PRODUCTION, STUDY, WORK, AND OTHER COMPETITION CAMPAIGNS; ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VOLUNTARILY AND ENTHUSIASTICALLY PARTICIPATE IN THE COMPETITION CAMPAIGNS;

c) MONITOR, INSPECT THE IMPLEMENTATION, INTERIM, AND FINAL SUMMARIES OF THE COMPETITION CAMPAIGNS;

d) IDENTIFY, PUBLICIZE, AND SPREAD MODELS AND EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP FOR LEARNING AND EXPANDING;

đ) IMPLEMENT WELL THE POLICY OF RECOGNITION AND INCENTIVES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF AUTHORITY.

III. OBJECTS AND CRITERIA FOR COMPETITION AWARDS

1. OBJECTS AND CRITERIA FOR COMPETITION AWARDS FOR RURAL POLICE AND CITIZEN POLICE FORCES

a) COMPETITION AWARDS INCLUDE:

- FOR INDIVIDUALS: "ADVANCED SOLDIER", "LOCAL ADVANCED SOLDIER", "PROVINCE ADVANCED SOLDIER", "NATIONAL ADVANCED SOLDIER".

- FOR GROUPS: "ADVANCED UNIT", "DECISIVE VICTORY UNIT", FLAG OF THE PROVINCE PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE.

b) OBJECTS ELIGIBLE FOR COMPETITION AWARDS:

- For individuals: Heads of Commune Police, Deputy Heads of Commune Police, commune police officers receiving monthly salaries and allowances as prescribed in Decree No. 40/1999/NĐ-CP dated June 23, 1999 of the Government; Heads of People's Security Ward Committees, Deputy Heads of People's Security Ward Committees, Ward Committee Team Leaders and members, receiving monthly allowances as prescribed in Decree No. 38/2006/NĐ-CP dated April 17, 2006 of the Government (excluding individuals currently working in agencies and enterprises already included in the scope for annual individual commendation).

- For groups: Commune Police; People's Security Ward Committees.

c) Criteria for individual commendations:

- The title "Outstanding Soldier" shall be awarded to individuals meeting the following criteria:

+ Mastering professional knowledge and skills according to their responsibilities, completing assigned tasks well in accordance with work programs, plans, and unit requirements;

+ Strictly adhering to Party policies and State laws, maintaining discipline, complying with work procedures and systems, demonstrating self-reliance, solidarity, mutual assistance, and active participation in mass movement campaigns initiated by People's Committees and police at all levels;

+ Actively studying politics, culture, professional knowledge, and skills;

+ Having a healthy lifestyle and moral conduct;

+ Receiving at least 70% of votes from the grassroots unit;

+ For Heads of Commune Police and Heads of People's Security Ward Committees, the units they oversee must meet the criteria for the title "Advanced Unit" or higher during the year.

- The title "Outstanding Soldier at the Grassroots Level" shall be awarded to individuals meeting the following criteria:

+ Being an "Outstanding Soldier";

+ Proposing technical improvements or applying effective methods to enhance work efficiency, or demonstrating bravery, creativity, and courage in work, training, combat, support for combat operations, actively mobilizing the masses to participate in mass movements for social security, and completing outstanding tasks. Technical improvements must be recognized by the Science Council (Innovation Council) at the grassroots level (the establishment of the Innovation Council is decided by the head of the agency or unit);

+ Receiving at least 80% of votes from the grassroots unit;

+ For Heads of Commune Police and Heads of People's Security Ward Committees, the units they oversee must meet the criteria for the title "Victorious Unit" or higher during the year.

- The title "Outstanding Soldier at the Provincial Level" shall be awarded to individuals who have achieved remarkable and outstanding results among those who have continuously received the title "Outstanding Soldier at the Grassroots Level" three times consecutively, with achievements having an impact within the province.

The title "National Outstanding Soldier" shall be awarded to individuals who have achieved remarkable and outstanding results with impacts nationwide. The criteria are implemented according to the Law on Encouragement and Reward and Decree No. 121/2005/NĐ-CP of the Government.

d) Criteria and commendation titles for groups:

- The title "Advanced Unit" shall be awarded to groups meeting the following criteria:

+ Completing well-set goals and tasks in the annual work program and plan of the unit;

+ Consistently implementing effectively mass movements for social security and other competitive movements initiated by People's Committees and police at all levels;

+ More than 50% of individuals in the unit achieving the title "Outstanding Soldier", with no individual being disciplined with a warning or higher;

+ Internal unity, strictly adhering to Party policies and State laws.

- The title "Victorious Unit" shall be awarded to groups meeting the following criteria:

+ Demonstrating innovation, exceeding set goals and tasks in the annual work program and plan of the unit;

+ Consistently implementing mass movements for social security and other competitive movements initiated by People's Committees and police at all levels with significant effectiveness, serving as models for other units to emulate;

+ All individuals in the unit completing assigned tasks, with at least 70% achieving the title "Outstanding Soldier", including individuals achieving the title "Outstanding Soldier at the Grassroots Level"; no individual being disciplined with a warning or higher;

+ Internal unity, setting examples in adhering to Party policies and State laws.

- The flag of commendation from the People's Committee of the provincial level shall be awarded to leading groups of Commune Police and People's Security Ward Committees meeting the following criteria:

+ Exceeding all set goals and tasks comprehensively, being exemplary throughout the province or centrally-administered city;

+ Consistently implementing effectively mass movements for social security and other competitive movements initiated by People's Committees and police at all levels, providing new factors and models for emulation by units in the province or centrally-administered city;

+ Internal unity, leading in practicing thrift, combating waste, corruption, and other social evils.

e) Commendation titles are reviewed annually, organized through trust votes from the grassroots level:

Commune Police, Heads of Commune Police, Deputy Heads of Commune Police, and commune police officers take trust votes within the Commune Police group; subsequently, the Head of Commune Police reports to the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune for consideration and recommendation according to authority.

Ward Committee Team Leaders and members take trust votes within their Ward Committee teams; Ward Committee, Heads, and Deputy Heads of Ward Committees take trust votes within the Ward Committee; subsequently, the Head of Ward Committee compiles and reports to the Chairman of the People's Committee of the ward for consideration and recommendation according to authority.

g) Authority to decide and recommend commendations:

- The Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune considers recommendations from the Head of Commune Police and the Head of People's Security Ward Committee to submit to higher authorities for the awarding of commendation titles to individuals and groups of Commune Police and People's Security Ward Committees according to authority.

- The Chairman of the People's Committee of the district decides to award the titles "Outstanding Soldier at the Grassroots Level", "Outstanding Soldier", and "Advanced Unit", and recommends the People's Committee of the province to consider and decide or recommend the Government to recognize commendation titles according to authority for individuals and groups of Commune Police and People's Security Ward Committees meeting the specified criteria.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee decides to award the Flag of Excellence of the Provincial People's Committee, the title of Outstanding Soldier of the Provincial Level, "Victorious Unit", and submit to the Government for consideration and decision to award the title of National Outstanding Soldier to individuals and collectives of Village Police and People's Security Guards who meet the prescribed standards.

2. Commendation titles for the nationwide movement to protect national security.

a) The subjects eligible for commendation titles in the nationwide movement to protect national security are: Collectives of people, village cadres; collectives of cadres, workers, and employees of grassroots-level agencies and enterprises (having legal personality and separate seals). Each province and centrally-administered city may propose the Ministry of Public Security to award a maximum of three Flags annually to one village, one ward (or town where regular police forces are deployed, assessed according to the ward block, and where regular police forces are not deployed, assessed according to the village block), one agency or enterprise. Central-level agencies and enterprises may propose to award a maximum of three Flags to leading units.

b) The Ministry of Public Security awards the Flag of Excellent Excellence to collectives meeting the following criteria:

- Exceeding all set targets and comprehensively completing all competition indicators, programs, and plans for combating crime and ensuring public order and safety; having new factors and models of the nationwide movement to protect national security for other units to emulate; having a strong core force in maintaining public order and safety (reaching the title of "Victorious Unit" or "Outstanding Labor Collective" or higher); being an outstanding exemplary collective at the provincial or centrally-administered city level or central-level agencies and enterprises;

- Effectively performing political tasks of villages, wards, towns, agencies, and enterprises; completing production and business plans, fulfilling state obligations, achieving high productivity, quality, economic efficiency, and work effectiveness;

- Having clean and strong Party organizations, administrative bodies, and mass organizations; internal unity; effectively implementing grassroots democracy; organizing effective competitive movements, thrift, anti-corruption, anti-waste, anti-smuggling, and anti-social evils with practical results.

c) The Flag of Excellent Excellence of the Ministry of Public Security is reviewed once a year, organized through evaluation and voting by the grassroots-level competition council (village, ward, agency, enterprise), proposed by the General Director of the National Security总局，人民警察部队建设总局局长，各省、直辖市公安厅厅长，并由公安部部长决定。

Part III
OBJECTS, FORMS, AND STANDARDS OF REWARDS
NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO PROTECT NATIONAL SECURITY

I. Recipients: Vietnamese citizens; cadres and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army, defense workers, reserve forces; Militia and Self-Defense Forces; state agency collectives; political organizations, political-social organizations, political-social-professional organizations, social and professional organizations; economic organizations belonging to various economic sectors; overseas Vietnamese, foreigners, foreign agencies and organizations, and international organizations in Vietnam who have made achievements in the national movement to protect national security shall be commended according to regulations (except for cadres and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army and defense workers, who only apply for commendation for outstanding and specialized achievements in security and public order work).

II. Forms of commendation by the President, Government, and Prime Minister

The Ministry of Public Security proposes the President, Government, and Prime Minister to commend medals, orders, honorary titles of the State, and commendations from the Prime Minister, and other forms of commendation to individuals and collectives with outstanding achievements during the summary and final assessment of the national movement to protect national security according to the Ministry of Public Security's plan, or when there are particularly outstanding achievements in security and public order work according to the Law on Competition and Commendation and Decree 121/2005/NĐ-CP of the Government.

III. Forms of commendation by public security agencies at all levels

1. Commemorative Medal "Protecting National Security"

The Commemorative Medal "Protecting National Security" is awarded to individuals with outstanding achievements in protecting national security according to Decision No. 838/2006/QĐ-BCA(X15) dated July 13, 2006, of the Minister of Public Security.

1. Certificate of Merit

The Certificate of Merit of the Minister of Public Security is awarded to collectives upon the annual summary of the construction of the national movement to protect national security; awarded to individuals and collectives upon the mid-term and final assessment of special topics or for outstanding achievements in security and order work.

a) Annual summary commendation for the national movement to protect national security:

- Regularly awarding annually to collectives of people and village cadres; collectives of cadres, workers, and employees of grassroots-level agencies and enterprises (having legal personality and separate seals) belonging to all economic sectors, which have outstanding achievements in the national movement to protect national security and meet the following criteria:

+ Comprehensively completing all competition indicators, programs, and plans for combating crime and ensuring public order and safety; having models and examples of the national movement to protect national security; having a strong core force in maintaining public order and safety (reaching the title of "Advanced Unit", "Advanced Labor Collective" or higher); being an exemplary collective at the provincial or centrally-administered city level or central-level agencies and enterprises;

+ Effectively performing political tasks of villages, wards, towns, agencies, and enterprises; completing production and business plans, fulfilling state obligations, achieving high productivity, quality, economic efficiency, and work effectiveness;

+ Having clean and strong Party organizations and mass organizations; internal unity; effectively implementing grassroots democracy; organizing effective competitive movements, thrift, anti-corruption, anti-waste, anti-smuggling, and anti-social evils with practical results.

- The number of Certificates of Merit awarded annually by the Minister:

+ For provinces and centrally-administered cities: The maximum number shall not exceed the total number of district-level administrative units (for centrally-administered cities, the number of Commendation Certificates shall not exceed 120% of the total number of district-level administrative units).

+ For central agencies and enterprises (under the jurisdiction of the General Department of Security): The maximum number shall not exceed the total number of ministries and ministerial-level agencies under the Government.

+ Commendation Certificates are reviewed annually once during the year-end summary of work performance.

b) Special commendations:

- Award Commendation Certificates from the Ministry of Public Security to individuals meeting the following criteria:

+ Achieving outstanding results in specialized tasks, campaign drives within the nationwide movement for protecting national security or achieving outstanding results in safeguarding national security and public order with exemplary effects at the provincial level;

+ Excellently completing tasks; having good moral qualities; being united and setting a good example in implementing Party policies and State laws;

- Award Commendation Certificates from the Ministry of Public Security to groups meeting the following criteria:

+ Achieving outstanding results in specialized tasks, campaign drives within the nationwide movement for protecting national security or achieving outstanding results in safeguarding national security and public order with exemplary effects at the provincial level;

+ Maintaining internal unity; effectively implementing democratic regulations at the grassroots level; organizing campaign drives well;

+ Caring for the material and spiritual lives of group members; practicing thrift;

+ Fully implementing all systems and policies for every member of the group;

+ Having clean and strong Party organizations and mass organizations.

- The number of Commendation Certificates for each interim review, final review of specialized topics, or campaign drive is decided by the leadership of the Ministry of Public Security.

3. Praise Certificates

Praise Certificates are forms of reward given by the heads of various General Departments, heads of units directly subordinate to the Minister, and Provincial Public Security Directors for individuals and groups when summarizing annual work on building the nationwide movement for protecting national security; when reviewing interim or final specialized topics or achieving outstanding results in safeguarding national security and public order.

a) Individuals eligible for Praise Certificates must meet the following criteria:

- Completing duties and civic obligations satisfactorily; having good moral qualities; being united and setting a good example in implementing Party policies and State laws;

- Achieving results in performing professional tasks, specialized tasks, or campaign drives, or achieving sudden outstanding results (for village police officers, enterprise guards, and neighborhood watch guards); actively participating in building the nationwide movement for protecting national security or achieving outstanding results in safeguarding national security and public order (for all social strata);

- Continuously studying to improve professional and vocational skills (for village police officers, enterprise guards, and neighborhood watch guards).

b) Groups eligible for Praise Certificates must meet the following criteria:

- Achieving results in performing professional tasks, specialized tasks, or campaign drives, or achieving sudden outstanding results (for groups of village police officers, enterprise guards, and neighborhood watch guards); actively participating in building the nationwide movement for protecting national security or achieving outstanding results in safeguarding national security and public order;

- Maintaining internal unity; effectively implementing democratic regulations at the grassroots level; organizing campaign drives well;

- Practicing thrift; caring for the material and spiritual lives of group members; fully implementing all systems and policies for every member of the group.

c) The number of annual Praise Certificates; the number and recipients of special awards are determined by the authority issuing Praise Certificates.

Part IV
AUTHORITY TO BESTOW AWARDS, PROCEDURES,
APPLICATIONS FOR RECOGNITION

I. Competition and Reward Councils

1. Competition and Reward Councils at all levels of People's Committees operate according to the Law on Competition and Rewards; Decree 121/2005/ND-CP and guiding documents from the Central Steering Committee for Competition and Rewards.

2. Competition and Reward Councils at all levels of Public Security assist their superiors in launching competition campaigns, evaluating rewards, or recommending rewards for individuals and groups with achievements in the nationwide movement for protecting national security. The Ministry of Public Security has specific regulations on the composition and operational mechanisms of these councils and their supporting bodies.

II. Authority to Bestow Awards

The person authorized to decide on bestowing a title of honor or form of reward shall personally present it or delegate someone else to present it.

III. Procedures and Applications for Recognition

1. Documentation for awarding titles of honor includes

a) A report on the achievements of individuals and groups:

- For individuals, there must be confirmation, signature, and stamp from the direct managing supervisor, and confirmation, signature, and stamp from the recommending rewarding level.

- For groups, there must be comments, signature, and stamp from the immediate superior supervising agency and confirmation, signature, and stamp from the recommending rewarding level.

b) A summary of the achievements of the group or individual;

c) A proposal from the recommending rewarding level;

d) Minutes of the evaluation meeting of the Competition and Reward Council at the recommending rewarding level.

2. Documentation for applications for recognition includes

a) A report on the achievements of individuals and groups:

- For individuals, there must be confirmation, signature, and stamp from the direct managing supervisor and confirmation, signature, and stamp from the recommending rewarding level.

- For groups, there must be comments, signature, and stamp from the immediate superior supervising agency and confirmation, signature, and stamp from the recommending rewarding level.

b) A summary of the achievements of the group or individual;

c) A proposal from the recommending rewarding level;

d) Minutes of the meeting to evaluate the application for recognition by the Competition and Reward Council at the recommending rewarding level. Additionally, for the title of Heroic Soldier of the People's Armed Forces, there must also be a result of secret ballot voting.

đ) For forms of reward from the Prime Minister's Commendation Certificate upwards, there must be confirmation of tax payment obligations from the direct tax management agency for units required to pay taxes.

e) Documentation for applying for the "National Security Protection" Commemorative Medal is implemented according to Decision No. 838/2006/QĐ-BCA(X15) dated July 13, 2006, of the Minister of Public Security.

3. Simplified procedures for applications

a) Cases meeting the following conditions can apply for recognition through simplified procedures:

- Commendation serving political requirements, timely encouragement and motivation of the masses;

- Outstanding achievements in combat, work, or participation in attacks against crime and maintenance of social order and safety;

- Clear and evident achievements.

b) The simplified commendation dossier includes:

- A proposal from the recommending level for commendation;

- A summary of achievements of the directly managing agency or unit detailing actions, achievements, and merits to be recommended for simplified commendation procedures, with confirmation from the recommending level for commendation.

4. The time frame for annual commendation summarizing the nationwide people's security protection movement runs from November 30 of the previous year to November 30 of the current year. Dossiers proposing commendation for the annual summary of the nationwide people's security protection movement must be submitted before December 20 each year (to the Department of People's Security Protection Movement Construction under the General Directorate of Public Security Force Building).

Part V
FUND FOR COMPETITION AND REWARD

1. The competition and commendation fund for the nationwide people's security protection movement of the Ministry of Public Security and public security levels at all ranks is formed from the security budget; local budgets ensure funding for mid-term and final summaries, commendations for the nationwide people's security protection movement, and contributions from individuals, organizations, or other lawful sources. The head of the agency at the level that issues the commendation decision is responsible for the expenditure of the award money. The Ministry of Public Security has separate guidelines on the source of award money and the amount of awards for various forms of commendation.

2. The competition and commendation fund for the nationwide people's security protection movement shall be used for the following purposes:

a) Printing certificates of merit, commendation letters, certificates of honor, flags of competition, frames for certificates of honor and commendation letters, making commemorative plaques, and badges;

b) Awarding cash prizes or mementos to individuals and groups.

3. The principle for monetary rewards or commemorative gifts is as follows:

- At the same time point, for the same achievement of an individual if they receive multiple commendation titles with different monetary rewards, they will only receive the highest monetary reward (or commemorative gift).

- If an individual receives multiple commendation titles at the same time point, and these titles have different achievement milestones and timeframes, they will receive the monetary rewards corresponding to each title.

- Overseas Vietnamese, foreign individuals or groups, can be commended with various forms of commendation and accompanied by commemorative gifts according to regulations.

4. For commendation titles and forms decided by the People's Committee at any level, the monetary rewards are funded by the People's Committee at that level. For commendation titles and forms proposed by the provincial People's Committee for commendation by the President, Government, or Prime Minister, the monetary rewards are funded by the provincial People's Committee.

Part VI
REGULATIONS ON RESPONSIBILITIES AND VIOLATION HANDLING

1. Heads of units are responsible for the accuracy of the dossiers and reports of achievements they propose for upper-level consideration for commendation. In cases where fraud is discovered in the declaration or reporting of achievements by the unit head or individual, the heads of subordinate units under the Minister, Provincial Police Directors, or Central City Police Directors are responsible for processing procedures to submit to the Ministry leadership for a decision to revoke the commendation decision, and recover any awarded items and money.

2. Individuals proposed for commendation are responsible for the accuracy of their declarations and reports of achievements for commendation at various levels. If fraud is found in the declaration or reporting of achievements to obtain commendation, the commendation decision will be revoked, and any awarded items and money recovered; depending on the nature and severity of the violation, they will be dealt with according to the law.

3. Individuals who falsely confirm or forge dossiers or documents for others to propose commendation; those who abuse their positions or powers to decide on commendation contrary to the law, will be dealt with according to the law depending on the nature and severity of the violation.

Part VII
IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Construction of Police Force General Department shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant units to guide and direct the implementation by the police units and localities; compile, review achievements and report to the Ministry's leadership for decision on rewarding or submitting to the Prime Minister for rewarding individuals and collectives with outstanding achievements in the nationwide movement for protecting national security.

2. The Finance Department of the Ministry of Public Security shall be responsible for coordinating with competent agencies to develop plans and guide the management and disbursement of rewards for the nationwide movement for protecting national security for units and localities.

3. The Directors of Provincial Police Departments under the Central Government shall be responsible for advising and proposing to the Chairpersons of People's Committees at the same level issues related to commendation titles and forms of reward for village police forces, neighborhood watch forces, and the nationwide movement for protecting national security.

4. This Circular shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette, all previous regulations contrary to this Circular shall be abolished.

5. The Heads of General Departments, Heads of units directly under the Minister, and Directors of Provincial Police Departments under the Central Government shall be responsible for organizing the implementation of this Circular.

In the process of implementing this Circular, if there are any difficulties, the police units and localities shall report to the Ministry of Public Security (through the Bureau of Building the Nationwide Movement for Protecting National Security under the Construction of Police Force General Department) for timely guidance.