The police are not and cannot be the sole culprit for all the system's failures in Montenegro, the Independent Police Union announced.
"A narrative is persistently being built in the public according to which the Police Directorate is responsible for every security problem, every institutional standstill and every citizen's dissatisfaction. If the Government does not function - the police are to blame. If politicians are unable to reach agreement on key laws - the police are to blame. If court proceedings last indefinitely or cause public dissatisfaction - once again the police are the ones who are being targeted for anger. Such an approach is not only incorrect, but also very dangerous," reads a statement signed by the president of the union, Igor Rmandić.
They point out that the question arises - is it realistic and responsible to expect one segment of the system to compensate for all the weaknesses of other institutions?
"The judiciary bears particular responsibility for the current situation. Courts are unable to issue verdicts within the legally prescribed three-year time limits. The consequence of such inefficiency is devastating - a significant number of perpetrators of the most serious crimes are at large precisely because of the slowness of court proceedings, and some of them are freely moving around, planning and committing new crimes during that time. This is not and cannot be a failure of the police. This is a systemic failure of the judiciary. The question arises: how is it possible that in some countries trials for the most serious crimes, including mass murders, are completed in seven to ten days, while in Montenegro court proceedings drag on for three, four or more years," the statement states.
They also ask who is responsible for such a practice and why there is silence about it.
"We will also cite a seemingly banal example, but one that perhaps best reflects the inefficiency of the system and the lack of coordination of institutions. From the recent statement of the Basic Court in Podgorica, which refers to the escape of a convicted person, it clearly follows that the letter was sent to the Police Directorate on January 17, while the police received it on January 19. The two institutions are only 200 meters apart, and the document travels for two days. Did this information worry anyone?" asked the Independent Police Union.
They also add that numerous media outlets, non-governmental organizations, and political entities have called for the resignation of the Director of the Police Administration, Lazar Šćepanović, due to the escape of two convicted persons, with the implicit message that this would solve all problems.
"We view these demands as an attempt to personalize problems that are deeply systemic and cannot be solved by one resignation or one person. Montenegrin society needs serious catharsis, but it cannot be reflected in the change of any individual. For the healing of this society, a change in the system is necessary, not individuals."
They remind that the police today operate with an insufficient number of officers, a significant lack of equipment, low salaries and a serious problem of overload.
"Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, the Police Directorate achieves excellent results with its existing staff and available resources. The question is how long people will be able to endure it. The answer lies in the hands of those who lead our country, not in the hands of the Director of the Police Directorate. Ensuring conditions for police work is not the responsibility of the Director of the Police Directorate, but primarily of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Government and the Parliament of Montenegro. If we want strong, independent and authoritative institutions, it is necessary to systematically approach solving problems by strengthening the legislative framework, more efficient functioning of the judiciary and ensuring adequate conditions for the work of all security structures. If we want a safe and legally regulated state, then we must talk about the responsibility of all institutions - legislative, executive and judicial authorities. Shifting the blame to the police cannot hide the fact that the key problems lie in the inefficiency of the system and the lack of political responsibility," it was announced.
They add that instead of strengthening the security system, we are witnessing a reduction in salaries and deepening divisions within the service, where a smaller number of employees receive salary increases, while the majority have their salaries reduced and they are left without any improvement in their position.
"This sends a clear message - the majority are expendable and unimportant, privileges are only for the chosen few. Additional concern is caused by persistent attempts to show the public that police officers have high salaries, and the latest in a series is the appearance of the Minister of the Interior, who is consciously misleading the public by stating that a police officer has a salary of 1.600 euros. Shifting responsibility to individuals cannot be a substitute for serious reforms. If those who lead this country really want these reforms, they must clearly demonstrate this. The path we are currently taking is not a good one, and we hope that they are also aware of this. Therefore, we are sending a very clear message - the police will not and cannot be a screen behind which other people's irresponsibility and incompetence will be hidden. Those who make laws, manage the budget and lead the judicial system must finally take on their share of responsibility. Without this, there is no safe state, no legal certainty and no trust of citizens in institutions," the statement reads.
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