Kosovo18, to discuss security issues, their experiences and the contribution they can provide.
The conference was initiated by the Mission in Kosovo and forms an important part of
regional co-operation on issues related to the role of young people and their involvement in
processes related to security and public safety. It was also a place to discuss activities that
could help raise co-operation based on ethnic and cultural diversity.
On 22 September, the Mission initiated an assessment to examine the role of Municipal
Safety Councils (MSCs) nationally and how they enhance community safety in Serbia. The
assessment was carried out by the civil society organization Belgrade Centre for Security
Policy by identifying key actors in crime prevention in Serbia and analysing six representative
municipalities throughout Serbia. The assessment led to a policy study on community safety
from the aspect of partnership building at the local level. Recommendations were published
in the manual Partnership for Safe Communities in Serbia and presented on 18 December in
Belgrade. The assessment showed that there was a critical mass of municipalities interested
in developing safety councils and recommends that a protocol on the work of Municipal
Safety Councils is developed and adopted. Such an initiative is expected to be officially
proposed by the MoI and Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government,
through implementation of the Community Policing Strategy and its action plan. Also, the
assessment recommends that the action plan is formally adopted as a priority and that
gender aspects are mainstreamed in addressing local safety concerns.
From 27-29 October, the Mission organized a capacity building training course for the 20
members of the Novi Pazar Municipal Safety Council to address local safety concerns
through police-public partnership. From 30-31 October, the Mission provided mentoring in
the process of designing the first Novi Pazar Safety Strategy. Through a participatory
approach that included police, the Mayor’s office, civil society and representatives of the local
administration, the Mission contributed to formation of the Municipal Safety Council as a
police-public co-operation mechanism that resolves local safety concerns. The entire process
was used to enhance the participants’ understanding of the concepts of community policing
and community safety. It also underlined the role different local actors play in the safety and
security of their communities, thus sharing accountability for resolving local safety issues.
From 27-28 November, the Mission assisted the MoI to organize the final session of the
Working Group tasked to develop an action plan on implementation of the national
Community Policing Strategy. The event gathered not only representatives of the MoI, but
also representatives of the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy,
Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Ministry of
Finance and the Republic Office for Public Policy, as well as representatives of civil society.
The final version of the action plan will be sent for adoption to different government ministries
and its co-ordinated implementation is expected to be initiated in 2015. The Mission will
continue to support this process as a vital means of developing police-public partnership and
service-oriented policing.
On 11 and 12 December, the Mission organized a round table on “Community Policing
Lessons Learnt” for all Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) from all police districts in Serbia.
The event gathered 66 participants, including CLOs from police districts and representatives
of the Uniformed Police Directorate. The event constituted an opportunity for the district-level
practitioners to share best practices on crime prevention following the implementation of the
14 local action plans that the Mission supported in 2014. Discussions focused on improving
community safety and crime prevention at the district level. This activity aimed to strengthen
effective and accountable relations between communities and the police service through
community policing.
18
All references to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or populations, in this text should be understood in full
compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244.
95
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