New Police Director in Serbia: A Chance to Turn the Page

The appointment of a new police director in Serbia, a position that has been vacant for three years, is an opportunity to restore its role as an impartial and professional law enforcement service entirely independent of political influence.

Three years have passed since Vladimir Rebi?, the second police director since the democratic changes in October 2000, retired. Although experts had emphasized the urgency of opening a call for applications for the new director as early as December 2021, the competition was not announced until October 2024. During this period, three different interior ministers were switched, further complicating the potential for meaningful police reforms.

The decision to open the call came suddenly. It remains unclear why the newly formed logistics sector of the interior ministry formally initiated this process: whether the competition was prompted by international community influence or simply a consequence of the ministry's frequent leadership changes, which have left the appointment of a director off the agenda. Regardless, this is not a critical issue now. What matters is that the police will finally get their first operative chief, offering a potential new chance for change.

The new police director must be more than a formally appointed figurehead but a leader capable of driving change, embodying independence, integrity and a commitment to professionalizing the police service. This role is pivotal not just for the police but for the entire criminal justice system, directly impacting the fight against corruption and organized crime as well as public trust in the police.

According to the interior ministry, six of the twelve applicants remain in the running for the position. However, the candidates' names have not been officially disclosed, reducing the transparency of the process. The Serbian government will decide based on the interior minister's recommendation. Regardless of who is selected, the new director will face significant challenges, as highlighted in a recent Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime report.

A fundamental challenge for the new police director will be ensuring operational independence. Currently, the work of the Serbian police is heavily influenced by politics and pressures from criminal groups, which seriously undermines professionalism and impartiality. The new director must act as a bulwark against political interference and criminal infiltration, ensuring that the police operate professionally and follow the law.

The proposed law on internal affairs, whose fate remains uncertain, further complicates the situation and demands serious reconsideration. Provisions such as granting the interior minister the authority to issue binding instructions to the police threaten police autonomy and amplify political influence. The lack of mechanisms allowing the police director to reject inappropriate orders or report abuses further hampers efforts to establish independence.

Corruption is a deeply entrenched problem in Serbia, with the police often at its core. The new police director must prioritize combating corruption not only symbolically but through tangible support to strengthen internal control, which should also oversee the director's work. Explicit acknowledgment of this internal control’s key role in fostering integrity within the police is essential.

Internal control faces numerous challenges, reflected in its declining results. From 2019 to 2023, the number of criminal charges filed by internal control dropped – from 170 in 2023 to 11 fewer than in 2022 and 42 fewer than in 2019. Nearly 900 charges were filed against approximately 1,000 employees, mostly for corruption. Still, questions remain about the quality of investigations, evidence collection and the outcomes of these charges.

External oversight of police work also requires improvement. As of April 2024, Serbia has a new parliamentary committee overseeing the police. However, the fact that the committee's president and vice president come from the ruling coalition is not encouraging. Ideally, the president should come from the opposition. Furthermore, two out of eight committee sessions were closed to the public, further undermining transparency.

Members of parliament need training in oversight techniques and must fully utilize their legislative tools, such as monitoring investigative techniques. Transparent and accountable police work can only be ensured by strengthening independent oversight mechanisms and granting the public access to their work. These measures are crucial for the new police director to demonstrate how they lead the police transparently, lawfully and professionally.

The relationship between the police and prosecution is crucial for effectively combating corruption and organized crime. In Serbia, however, this relationship is hindered by conflicting legal frameworks, which often force police officers to prioritize orders from superiors over prosecutors. This practice undermines the rule of law and slows criminal investigations, particularly during the pre-investigation phase.

The new director must advocate for reforms that resolve Serbia's long-standing dilemma: the police as a body for investigation and the prosecution as a body for criminal prosecution. A long-term solution could be creating prosecutorial police units, eliminating issues arising from the dual command structure. Additionally, mandatory joint training programs for police officers and prosecutors should focus on financial investigations and evidence collection. In the short term, prioritizing timely information sharing between the police and prosecution, with clear written documentation of all consultations and agreements, is essential.

In addition to improving cooperation with the prosecution, the director must address internal human resources issues. The long-standing practice of appointing "acting" officials to leadership positions undermines stability and professionalism. Serbia has lacked a police director for nearly three years, which highlights the severity of this problem.

Transparent and merit-based hiring processes must become standard, including efforts to promote gender equality. While women make up nearly 30% of the interior ministry’s employees, their representation in leadership remains challenging. The new director must advocate for equality and diversity in leadership as part of broader police modernization efforts. For instance, police officer Katarina Petrovi?'s recognition with the "Freedom Achievement" award for her work should not go unnoticed.

The appointment of a new police director offers an opportunity for change, as the police service must become transparent, professional, and accountable. Achieving this vision requires political will, legislative support, and a leader ready to confront entrenched interests. The new director must not only be a manager but also a reformer and advocate for justice.

Weekly magazine Radar initially published this article on 14 December 2024 in Serbian.