Complicated Arrangement of Overseeing the Policing

SARAJEVO – The adoption of the state law on police external oversight would contribute to a more precise regulation and work in overseeing the operations of a police forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Centre for Security Studies (CSS) presented on 13 December 2016 in Sarajevo a research on police integrity in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

There are numerous parliamentary bodies’ oversight the work of the police at different levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina, said Mirela Hodović, researcher from the CSS.

“At the state level, oversight is carried out by the Joint Committee for Defence and Security and Citizens’ Complaint Board on Work of the Police Officers in Police Bodies; at the Federation level, Committee for Security of both Houses of the Parliament; at the level of the Republika Srpska, Committee for Security, and independent parliamentary committees at the municipal level”, explained Hodović.

Several challenges are identified when it comes to the practical work within the framework of police external oversight.

“It was estimated that the lack of a comprehensive legal framework reduces their importance in the implementation of the oversight, and that the adoption of the state law would contribute to a more precise regulation of this area and more efficient work”, underlined Hodović.

Hodović also pointed out that it is not at the desired level of transparency because the information about the work and activities are not available to the general public or only short minutes from the sessions are published.

Police internal control has been organizationally established in all police forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are responsible for conducting internal investigations, but these units are not fully independent in their work.

“Their heads are appointed by executives of the concrete police agency”, revealed Hodović.

The police forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina do not pay adequate attention to human resource management.

“They do not have integrated human resources strategies which would cover all segments of their work. Also, the data in the report show that most police agencies did not meet legally prescribed percentage of women”, said Hodović.

The event was attended by representatives of the state and cantonal ministries of interior, representatives of international organizations and media representatives.