Prior to the change, police were state instruments for the implementation and enforcement of the dictates of the Communist Party. The citizens dared not criticize the police, and thus the police felt secure and confident in the performance of their duties. Influences from outside the country were also limited through tight control of country borders. With the disintegration of the rigid controls of the communist regime and the emphasis on democratic principles and individual rights, the police were faced with a number of problems. Suppressed hostility toward the police under the previous regime emerged, and criticism of the police by the media and citizens was strong. Police also became scapegoats for the various problems that emerged in the transition. Crime increased as more foreigners entered the country and as citizens began to express their "rights" rather than perform their duties. The police sought to address these problems by first separating their organizational structure and duties from any state security concerns. Their responsibilities address only issues of public law and order. As the public has begun to appreciate that the police exist to protect citizens and create and maintain a desired public order, the police have gained increasing acceptance by the public. The police have obtained much from international cooperation and input from the police agencies of other countries. The Hungarian police are significantly hampered, however, by the lack of modern telecommunications and information-processing equipment, but they have made significant progress in recordkeeping for crimes and police arrests. There is also a need to increase police salaries to be commensurate with the risks they face.