Plator Avdiu: Access to Police Data is the Biggest Challenge

The KCSS is currently developing guidelines for cooperation between civil society and the police, revealed Plator Avdiu in the interview with the POINTPULSE.

By Mateja Agatonović (BCSP) / Photo: Plator Avdiu (KCSS)

Plator Avdiu is the researcher at the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS), an independent policy research centre founded in April 2008. The main research area of Avdiu is integrity of security sector. The POINTPULSE used the opportunity to talk with him, in the side of the last week event in Pristina, about the KCSS activities on building police integrity.

What is the biggest impact of your organization in tackling police corruption?

In terms of police integrity, KCSS has in place various instruments, such as monitoring and research tools as well as its Kosovo Barometer Programme to measure public perception in Kosovo in regard to trust, corruption and other issues in the Kosovo Police. Additionally, KCSS is the process of preparing a guideline on the cooperation between civil society and security institutions of the country. This would further enhance the impact of KCSS towards the police with the aim to strengthen police integrity in Kosovo.

What are the challenges that you face in your communication with the police?

One of the big challenges is to access data and documents dealing with specific police matters, such as procurement contracts, documents of the internal control mechanisms of the police, etc. Therefore, a centralized system of police of sharing information to the public, media, think tanks, namely civil society should be changed into the more flexible approach in order to respond quickly and timely manner to information requests.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of civil society networking on a regional level?

There are significant benefits regional networks of civil society on police integrity matters on setting up a unique platform of cooperation with the aim to deliver impact on police institutions towards strengthening their professionalism, accountability, and transparency through democratic oversight. However, challenges remain about establishing a cooperation between civil society and police on regional level having in mind that countries in the region may have different approaches on perceiving civil society as a partner.