As part of the vetting and continuation of systemic reforms in the security sector, a decision was made to suspend three more police officers, due to suspicions of corruption, unauthorized production, possession and trafficking of narcotics, as well as other serious obstacles that prevent their further work in the police profession, announced Aleksa Bečić, Deputy Prime Minister for Security, Defense, Fight against Crime and Internal Policy and Coordinator of the Bureau for Operational Coordination of Intelligence and Security Sector Bodies (BOK).
Bečić said that this move is not isolated, but represents a continuation of the process of institutionally freeing the security sector from all forms of criminal and other illicit influences.
"Montenegro has a responsibility to restore citizens' trust in institutions. For this to become a reality, it is necessary that the law applies equally to everyone, both citizens and those who wear uniforms."
Therefore, we will continue this process resolutely, in accordance with the law and in the public interest, aware that the strength of every state rests precisely on the integrity and credibility of its institutions.
"To those who are illegally trying to obstruct reforms and protections, we are sending a message that justice is no longer selective. And the interest of the state is above any individual interest," the Deputy Prime Minister said in a statement to the media.
He said that all those who serve the law will be respected, while all those who served crime will be held accountable.
"Montenegro must and wants to have a professional, responsible and clean police force. I would like to remind you that at the last session, the Bureau for Operational Coordination (BOK) strongly supported the continuation of the activities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Police Directorate in implementing the procedure for determining the existence of security obstacles, control of property, income and lifestyle, as well as other legal procedures regarding the integrity of police officers, calling on all bodies of the intelligence and security sector to implement the vetting process, i.e. cleaning the system of all unauthorized influences and compromised personnel, as a priority, in accordance with their competencies.
At the same time, the BOK also unanimously supported the idea that I presented at the conference with the EU Ambassador, the Minister of Ecology and environmental activists, and provided clear guidelines to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Police Directorate to form an organizational unit within the Sector for Combating Crime, or a specialized team that will exclusively deal with the fight against environmental crime.
"The fight against all forms of crime and the implementation of vetting are key state priorities on which the future of Montenegro depends," concluded Bečić.
Bonus video:
