23 September 2009

NOVI SAD - Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Milan Markovic announced in Novi Sad that community police will start working across Serbia as of spring 2010.
Speaking at a promotion “Community Police - Providing Order in Serbian Cities”, the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government said that community police will help local authorities implement their decisions more easily.
He said that community police will be the first people that citizens should address in cases such as public peace and order infringements, the sale of alcohol to minors etc.

A community police officer may ask for personal ID from citizens, the Minister said, noting that community police may give warnings, make identity checks, search and confiscate items found on citizens.

Markovic said that community police officers will be able to issue mandatory fines and file reports to the criminal authorities.

The community police will have their own uniforms and carry truncheons, he said, noting that fines for preventing a community police officer from doing their job will be between RSD 10,000 and RSD 50,000.

Markovic explained that there will be one police officer to every 5,000 citizens, while each city will decide on the design of the uniform.

Markovic, together with Novi Sad Mayor Igor Pavlicic, talked today with citizens of Novi Sad about ways in which the community police can add to the quality of their lives.

The action is aimed at informing citizens of 23 cities and the City of Belgrade about the roles and jurisdictions of the community police.

During the next month Markovic and his Ministry’s representatives will visit a dozen towns in Serbia to discuss community issues with their mayors and their citizens.

The action is conducted in cooperation with the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade.

Source: EkoForum