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However, the situation is not so dramatic. Linas Pernavas, a Lithuanian police attaché in the UK for over a year and a half, spoke about this in more detail.
According to the former Lithuanian Police Commissioner General, British officials have no preconceived notions about Lithuanian crimes in the UK. Especially considering the number of Lithuanians living in this country.
Tell us about the beginning. How did you get established?
I like those challenges when I can do something new. I can say that I liked everything from the beginning. Of course, I came here in the early 2020s, so the pandemic situation has become quite a challenge. I had two months to settle down, to find a home. Then conclude contracts, cabinet, make contacts. The pandemic has made it difficult to establish and maintain contacts remotely. Call, write, and that man has not seen you before his eyes. Therefore, more effort was required than would have been the case under normal circumstances.
PHOTO GALLERY. Moments in the life of L. Pernavas
How did you manage to establish contact with the Lithuanian communities?
When I came here, I set myself the task of communicating with the Lithuanian communities and participating in the events organized by them. It is true that due to the same situation, there were not many of those events, but they did not impede communication. As General Commissioner of the Lithuanian Police, I interacted a lot with people, but I don’t have to do less. Especially since, according to the information they provided, we also arrested the criminals.
Who was surprised when communicating with compatriots?
I never form a preconceived notion about something. Most Lithuanians in the UK work, study and live honestly. But of course, like everywhere, there are exceptions here that ignore the law.
I like that the Lithuanian community shows its willingness to help each other. I receive requests from Lithuania that someone is not calling, I cannot contact a relative who lives here. I try to help and see that there are comments.
What is the British attitude towards crimes committed by Lithuanians in your country? What crimes dominate?
The situation is similar to everywhere else: domestic violence, drunk driving. Crimes and rapes do not differ much here and in Lithuania. It’s true that my job is to focus on serious crimes.
I can safely say that British officials are not in the position that Lithuanians are criminals. We are not exceptional in anything, there are definitely “best”. I have never heard Lithuanians stand out in any way. British officials understand that there are many in the Lithuanian country and all kinds of people can occur.
He has exchanged the chair of the Lithuanian Chief of Police for a UK Police Attaché. What essential differences at work would you mention?
Of course, these are two very different works. Previously, I had to run one of the largest organizations in Lithuania. True, being Commissioner General of Police, something becomes a matter of routine. And here everything is new and there is nothing to ask, in case of uncertainty, you have to remove yourself from the situation. I started working as a manager in 1997. and the number of subordinates grew and grew over the years, and now I have only one subordinate: myself. It is true that I would emphasize that there is less psychological pressure in the current job.
Compare the details of police work in Lithuania and the UK. What problems are relevant in one place and another?
I will say yes, the problems are similar. Basically even the same. It also talks about wages, supplies, workload, handling the COVID situation. I couldn’t highlight anything.
Perhaps I will just mention that the Lithuanian police is a centralized system. And here everything is divided into regions. The practices vary according to the territorial units. What is working well in the UK is what we are doing as well, and it needs to be emphasized even more: prioritization.
There must be an understanding that it is impossible to do everything right. It will not objectively distinguish all crimes. The British live differently, they have certain priorities. They make it clear who will pay the most attention. It may seem strange at first, but it’s worth it.
Comparing officials, we are certainly not inferior in terms of supply, and in some places we are ahead of the British. All officers have an electric shock with us, and certainly not here. Most of the officers here do not carry weapons, only those who work in special units.
How has the UK been affected by the coronavirus situation? What did you pay attention to?
In the UK, things were done a bit differently. The quarantine was one of the last in the country. The measures were introduced much later and the disease situation was bad. A quarantine plan has been developed and is being followed. Perhaps the biggest difference is that the majority of people in the UK are vaccinated. More than 70 percent have been vaccinated here. people.
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