NIS—Citizens’ engagement in planning and creating a budget for the local police that is part of a highly centralized system such as the Ministry of the Interior, is the main topic of the debate that will be organized on December 18, 2018, starting at 12:00 in Media Centre, Nis.

Nis is the third largest city in Serbia where over 200,000 people live and they want to be safe. In addition, this city is one of the few in the country that have a youth and traffic safety strategies, and the city officials announced the adoption of a comprehensive security plan. The implementation of local security and safety goals depends mostly on secured funds and smooth coordination of local and republic authorities. There is a logical question, where are the citizens in such a complex environment, what is the perception of their security priorities, and how to hold accountable budget?

With a local debate, the partners’ intention is to open a space for discussion on how to amplify citizens’ voice on their security needs in a system that is highly centralized, such as the police. Based on the discussion, the partners’ aim is to formulate recommendations both for the civil society and police authorities whose application in practice will contribute to the implementation of citizen-oriented policing.

The following questions will guide the debate:

  • What do citizens think about safety in Nis and who will protect them?
  • How to engage citizens’ in budgeting the local police?
  • What are the pros and cons of the decentralization of the budget for the police?
  • Is it enough to influence only the budget for the Ministry of Interior or not?
  • How to budget accountably the local needs of the citizens’ and the police?

Speakers:

  • Vladimir Erceg, Associate, Belgrade Centre for Security Policy
  • Danijel Dašić, Chief Operative Officer, National Coalition for Decentralization
  • Nebojša Rančić, Representative, Media & Reform Centre
  • Aleksandar Marinković, Strategic Planning Coordinator, Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities

Moderator:

  • Milan Stefanović, Director, Centre for Civil Society Development PROTECTA

Participants in the local debate will have the opportunity to ask questions to the panelists after their presentations.

Due to a limited number of available seats, please confirm your attendance by Monday, December 17, per E-mail at office@bezbednost.org or by phone at 011 3287 226.
The debate is part of the joint efforts of the Centre for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA), National Coalition for Decentralization (NKD), Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) and Partners for Democratic Change, in cooperation with the Centre for Civil Society Development PROTECTA, to foster the participation of citizens in decision-making at the local level, through project “Civic Action for Accountability” supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The views expressed in the debate are exclusively the views of panelists and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USAID.
Organizer: Belgrade Centre for Security Policy
Topic: Citizens’ Participation in Budgeting the Local Police
Time: 18 December 2018 at 12:00
Place: Media Centre, Obrenovićeva 38, Nis, Serbia

TAGS: AdvocacyFinancial ManagementPanel DiscussionPolice ReformProcurementSerbia