Report on the Performance of Activities of the National Preventive Mechanism for 2016 that means of coercion were used even after he was no longer able to offer resistance, whereas another complainant stated that physical injuries were a result of means of coercion employed while in the police station. Even though Ministry of the Interior rejected these allegations, claiming that injuries were suffered during disturbance of public order and in a fight between several persons, claimant, who was taken to the police station with visible injuries, was given medical assistance only subsequently. Police officers failed to act in accordance with the Ordinance on the Conduct of Police Officers, according to which they are required to ensure medical assistance to every person who has been injured after means of coercion have been used. Due to lack of evidence, large number of complaints regarding unprofessional and inappropriate behaviour of police officers, remain unconfirmed, since facts are determined on the basis of statements made by both police officers and citizens, which are usually contradictory. However, in 2015, Ministry of the Interior began implementing the project Epolice, which, among other things, enables recording police officers’ conduct and the aim of which is to protect not only police officers from unfounded citizens’ complaints, but also to protect citizens from unlawful and unethical conduct by the police. Recordings made in this manner may be used as evidence in court proceedings as well as for the purpose of performing supervision of conduct by police officers and assessing its legality, which means that they would represent the most direct form of civilian oversight. However, there was not a single case in 2016, within which, having asked for a video recording, we were actually provided with one, because treatment in question had not been recorded at all. Furthermore, in some investigative procedures it was impossible to confirm allegations regarding inappropriate, unprofessional and belittling conduct by police officers in police stations, because captured surveillance videos are stored for no longer than five to seven days. Consequently, Ombudswoman recommended that video recordings be stored for 30 days, considering that this period of time equals the one that citizens are granted for filing a complaint. Ministry of the Interior accepted this recommendation and corrected video surveillance parameters for police stations of Zagreb Police Administration; nevertheless, this remains to be done in other police administrations as well. In 2016 we again received complaints from elderly citizens, who point to excessive use of means of coercion, which is worrying, given the obligation that elderly people must be treated with respect. For example, a 73-year-old woman who got upset during an interview, according to allegations made by the Ministry of the Interior, In 2016, we again received complaints started insulting and attacking police officers. from elderly citizens, who point to Consequently, means of coercion – physical force excessive use of means of coercion, which and attaching restraints on the person’s hands – is worrying, given the obligation that were imposed upon the woman, after which she elderly people must be treated with was arrested. While being arrested, she warned respect. the police officers about her poor health and 25