State Secretary at the Ministry of Internal Affairs Dragana Kažanegra Stanišić said on "Colors of Morning" on TV Vijesti that the current public call for the recruitment of new police officers has entered a key phase - screening of candidates is underway.
"The commissions are currently working on security and psychophysical checks of candidates, which are the first step in a complex and multi-layered process. The security clearance check can take up to 90 days because it involves multiple security institutions, including the National Security Agency," said Kažanegra Stanišić.
After that, candidates will pass tests of integrity, knowledge and abilities. Only those who meet all the criteria will be given the opportunity to start working and begin training in cooperation with the Police Academy.
Of the 1.384 candidates who applied for the public call announced in mid-January, after the first phase of administrative verification, 708 advanced.
According to the current systematization, the Police Directorate has 5.462 job positions, but only 3.303 are currently filled. This means that the occupancy rate is slightly higher than 60 percent.
"The situation is particularly worrying in coastal municipalities, where the police force's staffing levels vary between 50 and 60 percent. The cost of living on the coast is higher, so there is less interest in serving in those areas," she said.
Although the challenges are numerous, especially due to the lack of personnel, the Ministry of Internal Affairs assures that, thanks to the reorganization, the increased number of academics, and the support of existing units, the summer season will pass safely.
"This is not the first time we have been in a situation where we are entering the season with a shortage of personnel. The system has mechanisms to respond to challenges," concluded Kažanegra Stanišić.
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