ZAGREB, Aug 27 (Hina) - The Democratic Centre (DC) party believes that the government's recent decision to set up a community police force shows that last year's dismissal of more than 3,000 policemen was motivated by political
revenge so that politically suitable people could be employed in the community and later state police.
ZAGREB, Aug 27 (Hina) - The Democratic Centre (DC) party believes
that the government's recent decision to set up a community police
force shows that last year's dismissal of more than 3,000 policemen
was motivated by political revenge so that politically suitable
people could be employed in the community and later state police.
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This was stated on Tuesday by DC vice-president Josko Moric at a
press conference in front of the government where laid-off
policemen have been protesting for over four months, demanding to
be re-instated.
Interior Minister Sime Lucin last week announced changes to the Law
on Police according to which cities would be allowed to set up their
own police forces.
Moric warned that cities in Croatia had different budgets and
different problems, and that the community police would not have
the same opportunities for training and equipment. They will have
different salaries with similar duties, which will not stimulate
them to perform their duties in a satisfactory manner, he said.
Moric added that it was not clear whether each city would have two
police forces - one state and one community - and what their
relationship and jurisdiction would be.
He noted that the community police could soon turn into a question
of prestige for local politicians who would demand increased local
taxes and surcharges to cover the added expenses of the new police
force.
The DC suggests the government increase the number of the maritime
and border police and equip them better, because Croatia will not be
able to draw closer to the Schengen circle of countries without
improved border control, Moric said.
(hina) sp rml sb