Tip: Functional video surveillance in police stations is in the public interest

Functional video surveillance in police stations is in the public interest, is the position of the Council for Citizen Control of Police.

The president of the NGO "Montenegrin Cultural Network" Aleksandar Damjanović spoke out a few days ago, claiming that the Budva police illegally filmed him on their premises. The police department rejected these claims as unfounded and incorrect.

The Council announced that, "regarding the objections to the operation of the video surveillance system" in the Budva Security Department, it expresses support for the Police Directorate in its efforts to ensure functional and reliable video surveillance in all official police premises.

"It is particularly encouraging and supportive that the Police Directorate is calling on and promoting the standards of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). Such an approach by the leadership of the police organization and the Ministry of the Interior as a whole is of key importance in protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms. Video surveillance that is functional, credible and has no so-called blind spots that would enable abuse is in the interest of the public and every citizen and protects them from possible abuse. Also, high-quality video surveillance serves to confirm the professionalism of officers who apply police powers to citizens in various situations and occasions," the statement reads.