There is no systematic response to factors and causes of corruption that reside within the Albanian Police.

By Andrej Stefanović (BCSP) / Photo: Vinie007

The Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) from Tirana has published a new study on corruption and integrity in the Albanian State Police for the period of 2014-2016. This is the second edition of the study, following the previous IDM analysis that covered the period until 2014.

The purpose of the study was to provide further assessment and overview of the anti-corruption measures undertaken in the last two years, especially in the light of Government changes that occurred in Albania. The study was conducted by employing a series of techniques and strategies that sought to secure the greater involvement of the targeted population, thus providing credible findings. Therefore, two surveys were conducted – one with the public, and the other with police officers. Likewise, police officers were asked to answer on hypothetical scenarios in order to obtain sincere answers regarding their perception and attitudes towards corruption. Through their answers, it was possible to detect their tendency regarding police integrity, as a means of resisting the temptation of abuse of rights and privileges associated with their occupation.

Strategic and Legislative Response to Corruption in Albania

The Study warns that corruption still appears as one of the leading problems in Albania and that it continues to hamper economic growth and slows down the pace towards EU membership. This dire situation was noted by the European Commission in its Country Reports, calling for anti-corruption measures to be stepped up. With the corruption in Albania being widespread, the Police was not immune to this threat. Moreover, it was one of the public institutions most exposed to it. There are numerous push factors contributing to Police corruption, and they emerge from the social, economic and political environment in which the Police operate. However, it was noted that the impact of these factors can significantly decrease if appropriate anti-corruption activities are put in place. Consequentially, anti-corruption measures are at the top of agenda of the current Albanian Government.

The current Government, which took power in 2013, immediately turned to revising the strategic, legislative and institutional anti-corruption framework. The overarching result was the adoption of the new Crosscutting Strategy against Corruption in 2015. This strategic document offers a vision of trusted and high-integrity public institutions in Albania. The Strategy was set to be implemented through an Action Plan, which in turn identifies the Police as the responsible institution in anti-corruption activities. It notes that there should be an upgrading of Police activities in fighting corruption, especially through an established track record of criminal prosecutions and convictions for corruption. Additionally, there is also the Public Order Strategy, also adopted in 2015, which acts as the major Police strategic document for fighting corruption. One of the stipulated objectives is to improve internal management in State Police, something which should lead to enhancing integrity as organizational changes in management and leadership in the Police is put in place.

Anti-corruption activities in the Police were also facilitated through proper legislative changes. Namely, in 2014 the new Law on Police was adopted. Its purpose was to tackle numerous deficiencies and to introduce important novelties, such as the redefinition of the Minister’s scope of intervention in the independence and operational activities of the Police, cooperation with the civil society, and the improvement of human resources through better regulating career promotion. Apart from the Law on Police, there is also the Law on Internal Affairs and Complaints Service in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, also affirmed in 2014. Through the adoption of this law, a new internal control service- the Internal Affairs and Complaints Service- was established within the Ministry of Interior. The crucial role of this body is to work on maintaining the integrity of police officers through, among other things, addressing corruptive and criminal activities in proactive investigations. On the sub-legislative level, improvements were made through consolidating all internal rules into a single document called the State Police Regulation. It contains rules on police conduct, responsibilities of police structures as well as indicators for performance evaluation.

Anti-Corruption Institutional Structure Is Not Fully Defined

Despite a number of legislative, strategic and practical steps being taken in fighting corruption both in the Police and in other public institutions, nevertheless, the institutional framework remains fragmented, underdeveloped and dependent. Unlike many other countries in the region, Albania still lacks a specialized independent anti-corruption agency. Rather, existing anti-corruption bodies are located within the executive branch of Government. On the other hand, the Parliament has still not taken steps to establishing a special anti-corruption committee.

When it comes to the State Police, the Internal Affairs and Complaints Services acts as the main anti-corruption body which is responsible directly to the Minister of Interior, and in this capacity is independent of the Police. However, the activities of the Service are hampered through disputes on authorities, the inadequacy of human and technical resources and deficient cooperation with the Prosecutor’s Office. Apart from the Service, there is also another structure within the Police in charge of reviewing police officers’ conduct- the Department of Professional Standards. It performs investigations in disciplinary violations committed by police officers and proposes adequate measures.

Public Perception of Corruption in Police Remains High

Compared to the previous period, the last three years have seen an upward trend in the use of disciplinary procedures against police officers, including demotion in rank and position, suspension without pay, deferral of promotion, etc. Likewise, there were a number of officers that were expelled from service. There was also a substantial rise in the number of public complaints, especially following a free phone line being installed.

Still, the results of investigations and convictions of corruption-related cases in Albania have been partial and deficient. Even when there are investigations in corruption cases, limited resources, and political pressure, alongside investigative leaks burden the process. Moreover, there is a continuous negative public perception on the extensiveness of corruption and distrust that current anti-corruption measures could change the situation for the better. Moreover, the public perception of corruption in the Police has even increased compared to the previous period.

In conclusion, despite some steps being taken, there was no systematic response to those factors and causes of corruption that reside within the Police, especially the characteristics of the police service and its organizational structure. The only way in which a meaningful curb of corruption can be achieved is through providing sufficient means and resources for adequate Police culture of integrity to be implemented. In other words, pushing anti-corruption measures which are not built on the fact that corruption in the Police is organization-based, will not lead to the necessary integrity in the Police. In the current situation where anti-corruption measures are only partially implemented, the result is the failure in building a genuine integrity culture in the Police.