Courts mildly punish assault on a police officer

In Montenegro, in the last five years, citizens have physically attacked 550 policemen. In the first quarter of this year alone, 19 were attacked. During the same time, 1.376 police officers reported insults and belittling, and in the first four months of this year alone, 68 such violations were reported against guardians of order, peace and law.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs gave that information to "Vijesti" and with devastating statistics they wrote what every civilized citizen should know - that "an attack on a policeman is understood as an indirect attack on social order".

If we ignore the fact that in the Montenegrin police there are also those who are not worthy of that uniform, those who brutally and unjustifiably used force against citizens, individuals whose badge serves to unhindered usury, smuggling, extortion, blackmail, threats, still the majority of police officers he does his job honorably and professionally. It is these and such police officers who are most often the victims of attacks, threats, insults and disparagement. The fact that there are more and more police officers who refrain from applying the powers given to them by law and "swallow" insults and insults is also worrying.

So far, every prime minister, police director or minister has assessed an attack by criminals on a police officer as an attack on the state and promised a strong response.

"We have restored the authority of the security services and the police. Today, every policeman is viewed with respect", said Prime Minister Duško Marković on April 13 of this year.

He said this only five days after a bomb was planted under the private car of the commander of the Intervention Police, Ivan Đoković, in Bar.

A day later, close friends of former Prime Minister Milo Đukanović, Zoran Bećirović and Vuk Rajković, insulted, belittled and obstructed the work of the policemen in the Podgorica discotheque "Beagle", whose informal owners are members of an organized criminal group from Kotor, the so-called Škaljarski clan.

After blowing up Djokovic's car, Marković said that it was "throwing a glove in the face of the state" and that the criminals "will have a quick and clear answer".

"It will not be possible to play with the state in this way," he threatened.

There is no response from the state yet.

Police Minister Mevludin Nuhodžić is also aware that attacks on the police are a serious problem in the country.

"Statistics for the last five years show that, unfortunately, the number of attacks on police officers increases from year to year," Nuhodžić told "Vijesta".

He said that, when it comes to criminal acts against police officers, there were mostly attacks on an official in the performance of his official duty and preventing an official in the performance of his official duty.

When it comes to misdemeanor proceedings, said Nuhodžić, they are most often conducted for insulting and belittling an official.

"Police officers of the criminal police sector and the police sector of general jurisdiction are most often exposed to such inappropriate attacks by citizens," said Nuhodžić.

In addition to the increase in the number of attacks, he is also concerned about the small sentences that the court imposes on those who attack police officers.

"Equally worrying is the fact that, when such attacks occur and guilt is proven, the courts impose sentences that are usually below the legal minimum. This results in the demotivation of police officers to, in order to protect citizens and their property, apply the powers that belong to them by law," said Nuhodžić.

He reminded that one of the basic principles by which the police act is the principle of proportionality, which means that the application of police powers must be proportionate to the need for which it is undertaken.

"Regarding the independence and impartiality of the courts in decision-making, from the point of view of the police, the penal policy is mild when taking into account the specificity of the work and powers applied by police officers, especially compared to the punishments imposed in the same cases in countries in the region. Without wanting to qualify the work of other state bodies from the position of the Minister of the Interior, I think it would be useful to consider the initiative that the Ministry of the Interior has already sent to the Ministry of Justice, which refers to changes in the Criminal Code to treat attacks on police officers as they do when they occur. at a time when police officers are not on duty, and in connection with the tasks they perform. The goal of our proposal is to improve the criminal-legal protection of our officers who risk their lives every day in order to respond to their tasks. "Just as police officers are responsible for failures in their work and possible abuses, they expect adequate protection from competent institutions in situations where they are trying to preserve a safe social environment," said Nuhodžić.

Nuhodžić: The media and NGOs do not pay attention to attacks on the police

"The fact that cases of attacks on police officers generally do not attract the attention of the media or non-governmental organizations, especially those that monitor the work of the Police Administration, is often discouraging," said Mevludin Nuhodžić.

He said that it is necessary to continue efforts in order to improve the legal protection of police officers while performing their duties, while strengthening cooperation with other institutions and with the support of the civil sector.

"Despite the daily challenges they face, police officers will continue to respect professional standards, protect the safety of citizens and the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution," he said.

Worrying attack statistics

In 2012, 51 criminal offenses were committed, for which 63 persons are suspected. Attacks were carried out on 84 policemen. Of these, 38 were criminal offenses of assault on an official in the performance of his official duty, nine of preventing an official in the performance of an official act, three criminal offenses of causing serious bodily injury and one of obstructing an official in the performance of an official act.

In 2013, there were 84 criminal acts, for which 88 persons were suspected. Attacks were carried out on 116 police officers: 71 attacks on an official in the performance of official duty, seven preventing an official in the performance of an official act, two endangering safety, one criminal offense of grievous bodily harm, one preventing an official in the performance of an official act, one violent behavior and one causing general danger.

In 2014, 56 criminal offenses were registered for which 76 persons are suspected. Attacks were carried out on 100 police officers. There were 45 attacks on an official in the performance of official duty, nine preventing an official in the performance of an official act, one endangering safety and one causing general danger.

In 2015, 107 criminal acts were committed, for which 103 persons are suspected. Attacks were carried out on 178 policemen. That year, there were 44 attacks on an official in the performance of his official duties, 62 obstructions of an official in the performance of an official act, and one obstruction of an official in the performance of an official act.

In 2016, 50 criminal offenses were registered, for which 54 persons are suspected. Attacks were carried out on 72 police officers. There were 45 attacks on an official in the performance of official duties and five criminal offenses of preventing an official in the performance of an official act.

In 2017 (first quarter), there were 16 criminal offenses for which 20 persons are suspected. Attacks were carried out on 19 policemen. There were 14 attacks on an official in the performance of official duties, one obstruction of an official in the performance of an official act, and one minor bodily injury.

A diary of insults and belittling

The Law on Public Order and Peace stipulates that if a citizen obstructs or belittles an official while doing work under his jurisdiction, he will be punished for that offense with a fine of 500 to 1.500 euros or a prison sentence of up to 60 days. If a citizen does this as a member of a group, he will be fined from 500 euros to 2.000 euros or imprisoned for up to 60 days.

2012 - 160 violations against 255 police officers.

2013 - 134 violations against 252 police officers.

2014 - 165 violations against 272 police officers.

2015 - 176 violations against 283 police officers.

2016 - 206 violations against 314 police officers.

Since the beginning of 2017, 39 violations against 68 police officers.