Parsimonious legal framework and parliamentarians’ reluctance to utilise their powers have impeded parliamentary oversight of police work. Hence, the parliament does not have a significant role in building police integrity in Serbia.
Parliamentary oversight is a key factor in building police integrity. Parliament, as directly elected body, provides all government institutions and public agencies, including the police, with mandate and powers – as well as the budget – to provide public services.
Therefore, parliament should ensure that police work protects citizens’ interest by providing them maximum safety at the best possible cost.
It is necessary to fulfil three recommendations in order to fulfil this role of Parliament in building police integrity in Serbia:
- The new Law on the Police should define the competences and powers of the National Assembly in the oversight of the Ministry of Interior and the Police. It should also enable the internal control body to directly address the National Assembly in cases it cannot duly conduct investigations. The Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly should more precisely regulate how Defence and Internal Affairs Committee should oversee the police work;
- The parliamentarians should be educated and encouraged to more actively use their oversight powers;
- The lack of parliamentary staff supporting oversight activities could be compensated by engaging external experts and strengthening cooperation with independent state institutions (such as Ombudsman).
Civil society organizations
dedicated to oversight of police integrity.