Collection of Policy Papers on Police Reform in Serbia, Number 8

BCSP Researcher Sasa Djordjevic compares the attitudes of citizens and police officers towards police corruption in his policy paper featured in the eight Collection. 

Citizens and police officers hold similar views on the issue of corruption in the police, primarily when it comes to its subject, forms and causes for occurrence. Generally accepted opinion is that corruption in the police damages integrity of the police service and negatively affects the development of accountable police service. Basic form of corruption in the police is taking bribes from the citizens, while police managers are deemed to be most corrupt. The cause of corruption in the police lies in the interests of political parties, so politization permeates almost all areas of police work. Views of police officers and members of the public differ to a certain extent, and these differences stem from the police culture in Serbia, which means that police officers are reluctant to openly discuss the problem of corruption, although they are aware of its existence.

Jan Litavski`s policy paper provides a short analysis of the development of community policing concept in the previous period and emphasizes the importance of Community Policing Strategy implementation through action plans with precisely defined activities and deadlines for implementation. This paper focuses especially on crime prevention, change of the organizational structure of the police, more effective utilization of resources, enhancement of police cooperation with minorities and greater representation of minorities in the police service as key elements for the implementation of community policing in Serbia.

Nevena Dicic Kostic`s policy paper attempts to point out the importance of education and training on human rights, and to present the situation of human rights and the role of police in their protection. Protection of human rights is rendered impossible without full understanding of the concept of nondiscrimination, especially because discrimination is still very pronounced in Serbia. Discriminatory acts occur almost on a daily basis, but the still low degree of democratic culture often prevents that these incidents be recognized. As the police have a duty to protect equally all members of the society, this paper provides the overview of relevant legislation and standards regulating prohibition of discrimination. In addition, it deals with specific aspects of particular vulnerable groups and how their rights are most easily and most often violated.