EXPERT TEAM MUP KS: ALLOW POLICE ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO CRIMINAL RECORDS

SARAJEVO, APRIL 26 (ONASA) – The expert team for the prevention of crime and other security risks in Sarajevo Canton continued its intensive work on solving the issue of recidivists, i.e. those returning to committing criminal acts, identifying it as one of the most pressing issues for the safety of citizens in Sarajevo Canton .
After submitting the initiative to the Federal Ministry of Justice for the adoption of the Probation Law of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Expert Team chaired by the distinguished prof. Elmedin Muratbegović, proposed a measure by which the police will act faster and more efficiently on the street, when stopping and identifying persons, announced the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Canton of Sarajevo.
The expert team proposed to the MUP of the Sarajevo Canton – the Police Directorate to enable police officers to have electronic access to the criminal records of the Police Directorate of the MUP of the KS.
In this way, every person who is legitimized will be simultaneously checked through criminal records, and the police will be able to act more efficiently if the person is a repeat offender.
Until now, the verification could not be done by electronic access to the database, which is why there was often a lack of quick reaction against recidivists, i.e. those returning to commit criminal acts.
As stated by KS Minister of Internal Affairs Admir Katica, this measure will be implemented very soon.
“In agreement with Police Commissioner Fatmir Hajdarević, measures were taken and complete digitization of criminal records was carried out, which was the first step in the implementation of this measure.
We expect that by the end of next month, police officers, through the codes that will be assigned to them, will have access to the database and thus be able to operate more efficiently on the street when they stop and identify persons,” said Minister Katica and added that the Expert Team approached this issue seriously. and that they proposed and initiated other significant measures.
“We will seek more efficient control of the work of the Federal Commission for the Conditional Release of Prisoners, but also initiate changes to the Law on Misdemeanors of Canton Sarajevo in such a way as to restore the possibility of imprisonment for non-payment of misdemeanor fines,” Minister Katica explained.
The President of the Expert Team, Elmedin Muratbegović, pointed out that all team members contribute as much as possible with their expertise and suggestions, and that he is sure that by working together, they will initiate significant changes that will result in a better level of security for the citizens of Sarajevo Canton and restoring trust in the police.
“One of our first measures was to enable police officers to have electronic access to criminal records, which would prompt a reaction on the street itself, and thus send a message to those who abuse the laws and break them, that the police now have much more efficient mechanisms and that they will be sanctioned.
I am glad that the Police Administration accepted this measure so quickly and that we will very soon witness its application in the Sarajevo Canton,” said Muratbegović.
The expert team for the prevention of crime and other security risks in the Sarajevo Canton will continue its regular sessions, and as one of the measures they are announcing the introduction of applications through which citizens will be able to send reports to the police, as well as reports to the Public Complaints Committee of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly.