In Herceg Novi, video surveillance will be installed in public areas at around 100 locations, with several hundred surveillance devices, it was announced by the office of Deputy Prime Minister for Security, Defense, Fight against Crime and Internal Policy Aleksa Bečić.
Bečić, Minister of Internal Affairs (MUP) Danilo Šaranović and Acting Director of the Police Administration Lazar Šćepanović paid a working visit to Herceg Novi on Wednesday, where they held separate meetings with the Mayor, Stevan Katić, and his associates.
It is stated that Bečić, Šaranović and Šćepanović also spoke with the heads of the Regional Security Center South, Petar Rolović, and the Herceg Novi Security Center, Dragan Kontić, and their associates.
It is added that the results of the security sector, personnel challenges and plans for further strengthening the system were analyzed, and that the central topic of the conversation was the joint project of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Municipality regarding the installation of a video surveillance system in public areas.
"Great progress has been noted in the activities of the previous months, thanks to the decisions made by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the HN Municipal Assembly, the activities of the working team and receiving a positive opinion from the Personal Data Protection Agency, which created the conditions for entering the final phase of the process of installing video surveillance in public areas at around 100 locations in Herceg Novi, with several hundred surveillance devices," the statement says.
Bečić, as reported, emphasized that the security sector is witnessing revolutionary reforms accompanied by historic results in the fight against all forms of crime.
"Human resource, normative and operational logistical strengthening is the basis of the reforms being implemented. Modernization and digitalization of work processes are the core of the planned investments. Therefore, it is very important to continue the process of expanding the video surveillance system throughout the country, as it is an extremely modern and efficient tool for improving security, but also for solving criminal offenses," said Bečić.
He explained that in personnel reforms, action is being taken in three directions - respecting and motivating experienced professionals, opening doors for young people and new energy, and, in accordance with legal mechanisms and obligations, cleansing the system of unauthorized influences and compromised individuals.
"The public call for university graduates is ending soon, so when we take into account the completion of that public call, as well as about a hundred young people who successfully graduated from the Police Academy a few days ago, we expect a strong personnel injection in a few weeks and about 500 young police officers who will begin their engagement," said Bečić, according to the statement.
He added that a new public call for higher education graduates is expected to be announced by the end of the month, and that work is also underway on a new legal improvement that will enable the expansion of the personnel base and new public calls next year.
"Everything can be solved by working together. Both personnel and operational technical challenges, but integrity has no price and that is the number one issue. One rotten apple spoils the whole bag, or jeopardizes the action of those in charge, undermines the system or tarnishes the reputation of the state. That is why there is no compromise on the issue of integrity because it is the basis for building a healthy and resilient security sector," Bečić emphasized.
Šaranović assessed that the greatest value is a healthy and professional relationship within the security sector.
"We are not proud of a past in which there are no cases of organized crime in which one of the suspects is not a police officer. We have been left with a difficult legacy and we are now obliged to face it in accordance with domestic and international obligations," said Šaranović.
He added that, while some accuse them of political vetting in an attempt to slow down reforms and eliminate the influence of crime from the system, the confirmation of suspensions before the Administrative Court, as well as the almost daily numerous prosecutions for serious crimes of many of these individuals, clearly show that the state has embarked on the path of the rule of law.
Šćepanović stated that over the past year, more than 200 new vehicles, some sophisticated and protective equipment, weapons and ammunition have been purchased, that multi-million-dollar projects have begun on the construction of facilities, and funds of around two million euros have been transferred to the UNDP for the purchase of new police uniforms on the international market.
Šćepanović added that 2026 will be a year of development with the complete transformation and digitalization of technical equipment that will improve work processes and also make it easier for police officers to carry out police work and tasks.
He said that the absolute priority is the employment of new employees, as well as the development of our own personnel potential, human resources, which are an indispensable segment in light of modern security challenges.
Šćepanović emphasized the importance of creating a stimulating environment for police officers, by improving their social status and advancing their knowledge and skills, education, as well as by strengthening the dignity and integrity of police ethics.
"Thus, we ensure and develop a relationship with the social community and raise the level of trust in the institutions of the system, because only a strong system and independent but responsible institutions provide visible and publicly measurable results," said Šćepanović.
The statement added that the meeting confirmed that the cooperation between the local government and the Security Department and the Border Police is continuous, comprehensive and of exceptional quality.
It is reported that Katić said that he is pleased that the video surveillance project for public areas is entering its final phase and that the city will be covered in about 100 locations.
This project, as he pointed out, will directly contribute to public order and peace, greater security and the establishment of communal order, but also a safer state border, bearing in mind that there are five border crossings in the municipality, while as much as 30 percent of video surveillance is planned on the routes leading to the crossings.
Katić also emphasized that improving conditions in the Ministry of Interior is crucial to making the job of a police officer more attractive to young people, especially on the Montenegrin coast, where the cost of living is higher and unemployment is historically low.
Kontić pointed out that the support of the Police management is available 24 hours a day, which, as he stated, has already yielded visible results.
"In the area of financial crime, we processed 88 criminal acts, with an estimated damage to the state of around 4 million euros. During this year, 65 searches were carried out, targeting members of organized crime groups and persons associated with them, while three police officers from the Herceg Novi Police Department were suspended, which is a clear indication that the law applies to everyone," Kontić emphasized.
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