OSCE Mission to Skopje helps boost effectiveness of national police watchdog
But thanks to help from the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje, the Unit, which was created in July 1992 to promote adherence by police to professional standards and deal with cases of alleged misconduct, is now playing a significant role in increasing public trust in the force.
Ensuring transparency and accountability
Its main function is to act as an internal watchdog, in order to improve accountability and transparency in police work, and to ensure that officers respect the law and respond properly to citizens' complaints and needs. It currently has 30 employees, including 12 regional inspectors, who face a hefty workload.
"The Unit has the vital task of protecting citizens' rights and investigating complaints. These safeguards and their implementation are crucial in shaping public opinion on democratic policing in this country," says the Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission's Rule of Law Department, Jovdat Mammedov.
Of the 1,300 cases of alleged police misconduct reported annually, about 20 per cent are transferred to the courts or the police disciplinary commission for action after investigation. Another 50 per cent are found to be unsubstantiated by the investigators, while the remaining cases lack sufficient evidence.
There is also a 24-hour hotline where citizens can dial 199 and receive information on the duties and responsibilities of police officers, or register a complaint about alleged misconduct.
Coping with the workload
Given its small size, the Unit faced problems coping with the workload and the amount of information it had to deal with. In addition, their office equipment was old and frequently broke down. The staff had to walk around the building asking favours from their colleagues in other departments with computers or copiers.
"With tons of documents to be copied every month, our officers had to carry confidential materials around to other floors in the Ministry looking for a working copier," says the Deputy Head of the Unit, Kire Ruseski.
"We didn't even have enough printers. Under those circumstances, it was very difficult to ensure the confidentiality of documents," he adds.
That is no longer the case, thanks to the efforts of a working group to improve internal control which was set up in early 2005 by the MoI, together with the OSCE Mission, NATO, the EU Police Advisory Team, the US Embassy and the Delegation of the European Commission in Skopje.
Donation of IT equipment
One of the working group's recommendations was to increase the Unit's technical capabilities. As a result, a donation in March this year of IT equipment by the OSCE Mission - laptop computers, printers and a photocopier with all the necessary accessories - is now helping the Unit's staff to conduct field interviews and investigations and process citizens' complaints.
"Working out in the field, I used to dream about having a computer," says Sashe Davchevski, a Field Inspector from Skopje, showing off his new OSCE-donated laptop. "Now I can do my job much more efficiently. Words of support are good, but this is even better - it's something you can touch and feel."
Kire Ruseski is also pleased with the progress made. "People trust the police more. They are confident that when they call we will conduct a thorough investigation.
"We are now getting more direct requests from citizens, whereas before they used to share their concerns with civil society or international organizations. This is a big improvement compared to how it used to be," he adds.
The Unit plans to further strengthen its capacity and is now looking for support in organizing a tour for selected officers to another OSCE participating State to study best practices and other internal police investigative methods. In addition, the Unit is planning to further develop its pages on the MoI website.