Law enforcement in Montenegro explained

Agencyname:Police Directorate of Montenegro
Nativename:Uprava Policije Crne Gore
Commonname:Policija Crne Gore
Logocaption:Emblem of Montenegrin Police
Badge:ZnackaCGfoto.png
Badgecaption:Badge of Montenegrin Police Officers
Formedyear:1994
Preceding1:Milicija
(SR Montenegro, SFRY)
Employees:4,282
Country:Montenegro
Countryabbr:ME
National:Yes
Governingbody:Government of Montenegro
Police:Yes
Local:No
Headquarters:Podgorica, 22 Svetog Petra Cetinjskog Boulevard
Sworn:4,077
Unsworn:205
Electeetype:Minister
Minister1name:Danilo Šaranović
Minister1pfo:Minister of Internal Affairs
Chief1name:Aleksandar Radović
Chief1position:Police Director (acting)
Stationtype:Regional Police Units
Stations:8

Law enforcement in Montenegro is primarily the responsibility of the Police Directorate (Uprava Policije).

Organization

All units of the Police Directorate report to the Police Director. Police Directorate of Montenegro is a law enforcement agency under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Interior. Ministry maintains direct control over internal affairs, issuance of personal documents for Montenegrin citizens (ID, drivers licence and passport), emergency situations management, human resources, financial and budgetary management of Police Directorate. Thus, regarding law enforcement matters, the role of the Minister of the Interior is supervisory, and he has no operational authority over police officers.

National level

On a national level, Police Directorate organized into 5 departments, which are main operational units of police, each headed by Deputy Police Director, while 3 sections and 4 units serve in a support and administrative tasks:

In addition to police departments, there are seven additional organizational units, for support and administrative tasks on a national level:

Territorial units

For direct execution of law enforcement tasks on the territory of Montenegro, 8 Regional Police Units (Područne Jedinice Policije) exist:

Police of Montenegro is legally governed by Law on Internal Affairs of Montenegro (Zakon o unutrašnjim poslovima). In criminal matters, Police is also bound to adhere to Criminal procedure law of Montenegro (Zakonik o krivičnom postupku), and its officers are required to conduct criminal investigations per instructions of Montenegrin public prosecutors.

Resources and equipment

The Police Directorate has 4,282 employees in 2020:

Public law and order officer on duty is usually equipped with a side gun (usually a Glock 17, CZ 99 are phased out), a pair of handcuffs, a police baton, and a Motorola TETRA MTP 850 S radio communication device.

The Police Directorate operates a fleet of road vehicles, numbering 470 in 2016. Standard patrol car is a white Opel Astra J saloon, although various other vehicles are also operating, notably Dacia Dusters as Border police patrol cars. Special police units are usually seen in Land Rover Defender off-road vehicles and BOV-M armoured vehicles.

Police Headquarters building is located on 22 Svetog Petra Cetinjskog Boulevard, in central Podgorica. It was erected in 2010 and has 9360m2 of office space, and also houses Podgorica Regional Police Unit. In Podgorica, aside from the new headquarters building, Police of Montenegro uses the old Ministry of the Interior building (located next to the new one), the "limenka" ("the can") building, logistics complex in Zagorič suburb and Special Units training camp in Zlatica suburb.

The Police Academy is located in Danilovgrad, and provides both basic police education, and professional and specialized training. Forensic Center is also located in Danilovgrad.

Aviation Unit

Montenegro's Civil Police Aviation Unit forms part of the Montenegro Government Aviation Unit, and purchased its first aircraft in 1972, with three more SA341 Gazelles transferred from the military air force in the 1990s.[1] Aviation unit also operates two Augusta-Bell AB412. All helicopters are based at Golubovci Airport, Podgorica.[2]

Police Directors

Ranks

Officers

colspan1Police Executive Police Inspectors
Montenegro
Direktor policijePomoćnik
direktora policije
Glavni
policijski inspektor
Viši policijski inspektor
I klase
Viši
policijski inspektor
Samostalni
policijski inspektor
Policijski inspektor
I klase
Policijski inspektorMlađi
policijski inspektor
Police DirectorDeputy
Police Director
Chief
Police Inspector
Senior Police Inspector
I class
Senior
Police Inspector
Independent
Police Inspector
Police Inspector
I class
Police InspectorJunior
Police Inspector

Enlisted

colspan1Police Sergeants Police Officers
Montenegro
Stariji policijski narednik
I klase
Stariji
policijski narednik
Policijski narednikStariji policajac
I klase
Stariji policajacPolicajac
Senior Police Sergeant
I class
Senior
Police Sergeant
Police SergeantSenior Police Officer
I class
Senior
Police Officer
Police Officer

Controversies

In June 2023, the anti-torture committee of the Council of Europe urged Montenegro to investigate police brutality Europol published a report on 23 March 2022 that included photos of police officers torturing prisoners.[3] [4] The report cited various instances of alleged mistreatment of prisoners ranging from slaps, kicks and punches to the head to falaka, genital torture, electrical shocks, asphyxiation as well as threats of rape and threats against the children and other family members of prisoners. In response, the Montenegrin Government has expressed willingness to follow the recommendations brought forward by the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT).[5] [6] [7]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Aeroflight Montenegro Police profile retrieved on May 19, 2007
  2. International Air Power Review Vol.9 p. 90-91
  3. Web site: Kajosevic . Samir . 2023-06-22 . CoE Report Urges Montenegro to Investigate Police Brutality . 2023-06-22 . Balkan Insight . en-US.
  4. Web site: Kajosevic . Samir . 2023-03-24 . Montenegro Urged to Probe Photos of Police Brutality, Gang Links . 2023-06-22 . Balkan Insight . en-US.
  5. Web site: Council of Europe anti-torture Committee (CPT) publishes report on its 2022 ad hoc visit to Montenegro - CPT - www.coe.int . 2023-06-22 . CPT . en-GB.
  6. Web site: Report. coe.int. 12 March 2024.
  7. Web site: Response. coe.int. 12 March 2024.