Sofia, August 23 (BTA) - Interior Minister Valentin Radev told reporters on Wednesday that 934 police officers had been appointed, by which the cabinet had started to deliver on GERB's election promise.

Radev added that more police officers would be appointed by the year's end, mainly in small and medium-sized population centres.

Between May and August, 245 persons were appointed in the gendarmerie, 129 in the Chief Directorate Border Police, and 560 in the Ministry's Sofia Directorate and regional directorates.

More than 30 per cent of the services offered by the Interior Ministry are available online, which has cut back queues at the Traffic Police offices.

A week ago Radev said he would ask for an extra allocation for equipment. The Ministry has set aside 200,000 leva for a full replacement of the firemen's protective gear.

Radev said that wages should increase not just in the Interior Ministry but across the Security sector. The National Council for Tripartite Cooperation will discuss a possible pay rise on September 12.

Police officers, firefighters, rescuers and other staff have staged several protests with demands for a pay rise in recent months. Radev answered them that a pay rise can be considered in September as part of talks on a new budget.

Regarding the maintenance of the 112 emergency call service, Radev explained that he suspended a public procurement procedure in July because he found a fault. A contract will be awarded within a month or two, he said. Its purpose is to restore the system's operating capacity and make the service accessible to people with hearing and speech impairments.