1.5 The visits to police stations
the duty officer by a mere desk (approx. 140 cm high) and that this is not fully adequate according to the
specified workplace, as the officer has essentially no protection from the clients of the PS. Therefore the
NPM proposed to examine the possibility of arranging the workplace of the duty police officer to be more
secure and to prevent clients from directly attacking the duty police officer. With regard to this, the Ministry
of the Interior informed the NPM that the possibilities of a more secure arrangement of a duty police officer
room will be examined in the context of the available financial resources.
Control visit of the Šentjur pri Celju PS
In 2013 the NPM also performed a control visit of the Šentjur pri Celju PS for the purpose of verifying
the realisation of the NPM recommendations from the previous visit with regard to the response
report of the Ministry of the Interior. During the visit it was ascertained that the recommendation on
examination of the possibilities of at least installing a bell, which would enable the disabled persons
to warn a duty police officer of their arrival was realised, as the bell was installed along the stairs
which lead into the PS premises. Furthermore, during the previous visit the NPM proposed to provide
suitable office chairs used by the officers for their office work and the control visit revealed that this
recommendation of the NPM was fully realised, as the officers received four office chairs (although
different), with which the officers are satisfied and enable better conditions for (office) work. During
the previous visit the NPM proposed that appropriate document accompany the items, which are stored
in the room for confiscated items, e.g. a receipt or a record of the confiscation of items or a record
on found items and the inspection of the room where (small) confiscated items are stored during the
control visit revealed that the room is tidy and clean and every confiscated item was accompanied by
an appropriate document. During the previous visit the NPM requested an explanation of the position
concerning the detention of a person, who refuses a test with a breath alcohol indicator (Breathalyser)
and will not sign the report on the test and the specialist examination or a test with the breath alcohol
analyser - ethyilometer, was not ordered. In the response report, the Ministry of the Interior agreed with
the position of the NPM that, in accordance with Article 107, Paragraph 2 of the ZPrCP, a breathalyser
test with an ethylometer or an expert examination should also be ordered in cases when a driver refuses
to take the alcohol content test and will not sign the relevant report. The Ministry of the Interior stated
that the expert service of the general Police Directorate was informed about the abovementioned
opinion. With regard to this NPM recommendation the control visit showed that later a modification of
the relevant provision of ZPrCP occurred with the Act Amending the Road Traffic Safety Act (ZPrCP-A).
During the previous visit the NPM proposed to examine the possibility of arranging the workplace of the
duty police officer to be more secure and to prevent clients from directly attacking the duty police officer.
Furthermore, the NPM proposed to examine the possibilities of providing a separate (from the rest of
the police officers) changing room for the female police officer. The NPM also proposed to examine the
possibilities for arrangement of a suitable room for storing larger confiscated items. At that time the
Ministry of the Interior stated in its response to be aware that the officers’ working conditions (office
chairs, changing rooms, storage rooms for found and confiscated items, arrangement of a duty room)
in the abovementioned PS are extremely poor and that the construction of new police station building is
scheduled, but depends on the available financial resources. The Ministry of the Interior also informed
the NPM that the Celje Police Directorate will attempt to correct certain deficiencies by rearranging
certain material means (e.g. provide for chairs, the storage of large confiscated items in other police
units etc.). During the control visit the NPM received information that the construction of this PS is
scheduled for 2015-2016 and with this regard requested to be informed of the planned measures and to
ensure better security of the duty officer and the separation of the changing rooms for men and women
officers. The Ministry of the Interior informed the NPM by a response report on the abovementioned
findings from the control visit, that a wardrobe for the female police officer will be placed in an office in
the cellar, which is rarely used and with regard to the proposal on arranging the workplace of the duty
police officer to be more secure communicated that the issue was recorded in the context of the plan
for maintenance of the premises of the PS for 2013 and will be realised, if financial resources will be
provided.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE NPM IN 2013
NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM UNDER THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT
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