MOSCOW, February 8 - RAPSI. The government will allocate an additional 3.3 billion rubles ($109.8 million) to increase the social security packages of police officers, President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting at the Interior Ministry on Friday.

The ministry's budget doubled last year compared with 2011, he said.

As a result, the salaries doubled for the ministry's agencies and interior troops and their housing allocations increased sixfold. The ministry's housing fund also grew, he said, and another 5,000 families were able to buy or build new homes.

"This year, the government is allocating another 3.3 billion rubles for this purpose and will continue augmenting compensation packages," the president said. The ministry should also continue to improve its personnel policy, he added.