Director of the Police Directorate PhD Veselin Veljovic with Director Deputies, Heads of all Departments in the Police Directorate, Head of the Security Center Podgorica and Head of the Department for Analytics and Improvement of Policing held a meeting with president and members of the Council for the Civic Control of Police MsC Aleksandar Sasa Zekovic, Professor PhD Drazen Cerovic, Zoran Celebic and PhD Vladimir Dobricanin. 

Police Directorate recognized and is affirmative towards the efforts of the Council in terms of work and checking of all public complaints as regards the police practice, culture, integrity and use of police powers.   

Mutual cooperation and communication of the police and civic control is significantly improved and it is at a high level. 

Common commitment to security and respect of human rights enabled Police Directorate and Council for the Civic Control of Police to work together, not to oppose and thus achieve good results. The Police no longer has a defensive or emotional approach towards the attitude that comes from the protector of human rights and shows openness towards constructive criticism and changes.

Director of the Police has condemned every act of police abuse and with determination announced appropriate sanctions. A joint call was sent to the police officers to report colleagues who are unworthy of police job.

Moral courage of police officers was discussed and importance was jointly recognized to register unprofessional treatment and execute timely sanctions in the Police as well as to stop with individual examples of acknowledgment of abuse of citizens in procedures outside the police because it degrades an established accountability system. 

Support was provided to professional work and integrity of police officers and protection of public reputation of police profession with a joint call to judiciary not to judge attacks on police officers under a legal minimum.

The Council assessed police treatment to be significantly improved and the use of police powers professional and without any serious violations of human rights. Individual acts of exceeding of power and misconduct as well as deviation from ethical values are timely identified, investigated and appropriate cooperation with competent prosecutor’s office is established. This is especially different situation and treatment in relation to previous years. 

On the basis of very careful analysis and objective indicators, which include relation towards issued recommendations and opinions, the Council concluded that the current leadership of the Police Directorate realizes serious reforms aimed at making the Police more efficient service, improves overall accountability and successfully responds to the needs of citizens and modern society. 

Opinions, assessments and recommendations of the Council contribute to analysis planning and implementation of reforms in the Police. Results of the civic control of the police are becoming possible and necessary part of everyday police practice.

As assessed by the Council, the skills of leadership in 2019, was especially noticeable, and the director of the Police Directorate showed competency to manage police organization by strengthening results and accountability by prevention of undesirable behavior and have approach of appreciation towards the citizens.  The Council for years is indicating that the police culture defines identity of the Montenegrin police. It is the experience of the Council that the management of the Police Directorate shows readiness to implement changes and establish culture based on professionalism and values by which a positive perceived identity of the Police in the society rests on. 

In 2019 there were no cases of unlawful behavior of police officers towards the citizens apprehended during transport to official premises. 

The Council praised activity of the Police Directorate at the local level that continued and deepen opening of the Montenegrin Police towards public. More frequent meetings with the journalists, citizens and bigger visibility of managers of the Police in the local community represent novelties that contribute to the trust and support. The Council recommended activities that will deepen relations with the local community. 

For further improvement of the operating standards, the Police Directorate will pay special attention towards vulnerable social groups, especially towards the youth.  

Police Directorate is doing everything in its possibilities to respect standards on conditions of stay in a so called police detention. Taking into account the recommendations of the European Committee for Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), Council for the Civic Control of Police and the National Mechanism for prevention of torture, Police Directorate announced today that they have suspended further use of the detention premises in the Security Department Tivat. 

Safety of journalists was in detailed discussed. Case of journalist Vladimir Otasevic was discussed and it was concluded that police acted timely and professionally. In regards to the case of the journalist Olivera Lakic it is with determination stated that there is intensive communication with the Prosecutor’s Office, everyday check of evidence and that an indictment is expected within a reasonable time. Police Directorate prioritized safety and protection of journalists in its work where numerous activities are being undertaken to prevent all forms of violation of freedom of expression aimed at enabling smooth performance of journalistic profession in Montenegro. 

It is pointed to the Council that the control and the maintenance of the system of video surveillance in SC Podgorica is under the authority of MoI of Montenegro and that technical problems will be removed because the competent unit of the MoI is timely informed. 

Several cases the Council is working on were discussed where several recommendations of the Council were accepted on the spot.

Decision to nominate the Head as a Communications and Cooperation Officer of the Police Directorate with the Civic Control proved to be highly practical and successful. Chief Police Inspector Zoran Brdjanin, Head of the Department for Analytics and Improvement of Policing, who is nominated as a Head Communications and Cooperation Officers, held everyday contact, showed professional and committed relation for which reasons the Council commends him with the management of the police and the public of Montenegro.