Speaking at an event held by the Hungarian Defence Forces Military Police Center in Budapest on Tuesday, 13 September, Minister of Defence István Simicskó stated that security challenges demand the strengthening of the security and sense of safety of the Hungarian people.

A number of serious threats have emerged in Europe. We can see “the violence committed by migrants and others”, István Simicskó said in an assembly of the center that closed the period of organization since its establishment in March. He added that the military leadership is proud of the soldiers of the Hungarian Defence Forces, including the military police officers, who are able to identify the challenges and threats of our age, and are also willing to make sacrifices for the security of the Hungarian nation and people.

Sándor Mergancz, the commandant of the center said that the staff has already been carrying out the tasks with national scope of authority, and that some new forms of service have been created too.  Some military police patrols are now equipped with motorcycles and police dogs, and the center also has crime scene investigators available. The brigadier-general added that, in terms of personnel and assets, all conditions are given for the center to be able to meet the requirements.

Among others, Chief of Defence Gen. Tibor Benkő also attended the event presenting the activity and capabilities of the Hungarian Defence Forces Military Police Center.

At the end of January, at a press briefing held after the annual tasking conference of the Hungarian Defence Forces, Gen. Tibor Benkő announced that a new military police organization with national scope of authority will be set up in the Petőfi barracks, Budapest in March, which will carry out a wide range of duties from maintaining military order to ensuring compliance with the rules of traffic. The general stated that the military leadership had long been expecting the establishment of the military police center.

The center started operating as of 1 March, with Brig.-Gen. Sándor Mergancz appointed as commandant of the new organization.

An earlier press release by the Ministry of Defence says that besides policing and law enforcement duties, the core tasks of the Military Police Centre include the military defence of Hungary’s independence, territorial integrity and borders, the fulfillment of joint defence and peacekeeping commitments that arise from international agreements, as well as humanitarian activity in accordance with international law.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)