OSCE Mission and Swedish Government to strengthen crime scene investigation capacity in Serbia
Through projects such as the advanced police training centre in Belgrade, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro aims to provide higher quality of policing for Serbia. (Milan Obradovic) Photo details
BELGRADE, 4 October 2004 - Under an agreement signed today in Belgrade, Sweden will donate 1.35 million euros to Serbia's Interior Ministry to enhance its crime scene investigation capabilities.
Representatives from the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro, the Serbian Interior Ministry and the Swedish National Police Board signed the Memorandum of Understanding concerning the donation from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). This tripartite agreement is part of the three-year "Strengthening of Crime Scene Investigations in Serbia" project, launched in March 2004.
The OSCE Mission has the co-ordinating role for international assistance provided by several bilateral donors to the Serbian Police.
The Swedish police will provide training for 250 crime scene and forensic officers throughout Serbia, operational equipment and training aids.
A working group made up of representatives from the public prosecutor's office, investigative judges and the police will also develop recommendations for legislative reform and structural changes aimed at improving co-operation during criminal investigations.
"The quality of evidence in the criminal justice procedure is essential for ensuring fair legal proceedings and the rule of law," said Douglas Wake, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission, at the signing ceremony. "The Project is part of overall efforts to enhance the domestic capacity to fight crime."
Serbia's Interior Minister Dragan Jocic, the National Police Commissioner of Sweden, Sten Heckscher, and the Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro, Douglas Wake, signed the agreement.
Representatives from the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro, the Serbian Interior Ministry and the Swedish National Police Board signed the Memorandum of Understanding concerning the donation from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). This tripartite agreement is part of the three-year "Strengthening of Crime Scene Investigations in Serbia" project, launched in March 2004.
The OSCE Mission has the co-ordinating role for international assistance provided by several bilateral donors to the Serbian Police.
The Swedish police will provide training for 250 crime scene and forensic officers throughout Serbia, operational equipment and training aids.
A working group made up of representatives from the public prosecutor's office, investigative judges and the police will also develop recommendations for legislative reform and structural changes aimed at improving co-operation during criminal investigations.
"The quality of evidence in the criminal justice procedure is essential for ensuring fair legal proceedings and the rule of law," said Douglas Wake, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission, at the signing ceremony. "The Project is part of overall efforts to enhance the domestic capacity to fight crime."
Serbia's Interior Minister Dragan Jocic, the National Police Commissioner of Sweden, Sten Heckscher, and the Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro, Douglas Wake, signed the agreement.