Bečić: BOK appealed for urgent amendments to all necessary laws in order to address security challenges

The Bureau for Operational Coordination of Intelligence and Security Sector Bodies (BOK) has appealed for urgent amendments to all necessary laws in order to address security challenges, announced BOK coordinator and Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić.

He said that the length of court proceedings due to procedural abuses, the failure to issue first-instance verdicts within three years, the manner in which judicial authorities act in cases of violations of supervision measures by defendants, as well as an inadequate legislative framework, are reasons that allow those accused of committing serious crimes to remain at large.

"This, as shown by certain criminal incidents from the previous year, increases the number of potential targets, but also potential perpetrators of serious crimes, which can complicate the security situation," said Bečić.

The BOK held its eighth session today. As announced, the session was attended by, in addition to BOK members, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Director of the Directorate for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions, and the Acting Assistant Director of the Police Directorate for the Crime Prevention Sector.

"Recalling that the BOK, together with the National Security Council, the Ministry of Interior and the Police Department, has repeatedly insisted since the beginning of its mandate on resolving the pronounced personnel deficit in the Police Administration, the BOK welcomes the announcement of a public call by the Ministry of Interior for the recruitment of 815 police officers, inviting candidates who meet the requirements to apply and be part of the reforms and much-needed personnel strengthening of the Police Administration. The BOK also affirms the fact that in January 49 Police Academy students established an employment relationship for an indefinite period," the statement reads.

Bečić said that the BOK affirms the current implementation of measures established by the National Security Council after the tragedy in Cetinje, within which, between January 2 and January 22, citizens handed over 1315 firearms, 40 pieces of ammunition, 803 hand grenades and several parts of weapons and explosives in the "Respect Life, Return Weapons" campaign.

"...Then, illegal weapons were searched and seized throughout Montenegro, continuous actions were carried out aimed at members of organized crime groups and persons of operational interest, the Ministry of Interior prepared and put up for public debate a Draft Law on Weapons and Ammunition, significantly more rigorous and restrictive than the current one, and the Ministry of Justice a Draft Amendments to the Criminal Code with the aim of respecting sanctions for illegal possession and carrying of weapons, a public call for the recruitment of 815 police officers was issued, 49 students of the Police Academy were employed for an indefinite period, the staff of the Cetinje Police Department was strengthened, and other measures were implemented with the aim of prevention, improvement and strengthening of capacities," added Bečić.

He said that BOK emphasizes, taking into account the health and social character of the aforementioned systemic problems, the affirmation of the announced specialized interdepartmental approach of health, social, educational, security and other institutions, because the complexity requires a systemic response in the prevention of violence, and points to the need for citizens to report all forms of deviant behavior in society and be an active partner.

"The BOK affirms and strongly supports that the Government of Montenegro, in cooperation with the relevant Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, make the necessary decisions with the aim of creating all necessary prerequisites for the engagement of security guards in primary and secondary schools. The BOK affirms previous conclusions indicating to the intelligence and security sector authorities to implement continuous joint, preventive, intelligence and operational activities aimed at preventing the commission of serious crimes and passivizing the activities of organized criminal groups, while paying attention to potential hybrid threats," the statement states.

Bečić said that the BOK supports and affirms the decisive actions of the Ministry of Interior and the Police Administration to protect the integrity of the police profession by eliminating unauthorized influences, "in order to, on the one hand, sanction all compromised police officers through fair and legal procedures, and, on the other hand, recognize, support and reward the work of officers who perform their jobs honorably and professionally."

"The BOK affirms the results of the Crime Prevention Sector achieved in December, within which, among other things, 137 persons were prosecuted for criminal offenses with elements of serious and organized crime, including leaders and members of high-risk organized crime groups, former and current police officers and other persons. The BOK was informed about the continuation of activities related to the expansion of the video surveillance system in public areas, activities on the finalization of the Draft Law on Road Traffic Safety, activities of the Ministry of Justice working group on the preparation of the proposal for the Regulation on Electronic Control of the Execution of Surveillance Measures, reports on the work of interdepartmental working teams, and considered other issues within its jurisdiction," the statement reads.