The Assembly of the Sarajevo Canton (KS) has adopted a set of laws in the field of internal affairs that, among other things, introduce auxiliary police and a Helicopter Unit, accelerate the employment and advancement of police officers, and tighten the conditions for the acquisition and carrying of weapons, while harmonizing them with international standards and European Union acts.
At the proposal of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Sarajevo Canton, the Law on Amendments to the Law on Internal Affairs, the Law on Amendments to the Law on Police Officers, and the new Law on the Acquisition, Possession, and Carrying of Weapons in the Sarajevo Canton were adopted today.
The amendments to the law will achieve more efficient filling of vacant police positions, staffing and strengthening of the police, clearer determination of the terms of educational and professional qualifications required for work in the police, and opening opportunities for education of police officers in higher education institutions in the country and abroad.
The Law on the Acquisition, Possession and Carrying of Weapons in the Canton of Sarajevo has been adopted in a new form and is now in line with international standards and EU acts
– We worked in detail, analytically, coordinated and comprehensively on the adoption of these amendments and included all interested parties. The laws were supported by the Canton of Sarajevo Government, we conducted a public debate, accepted all constructive proposals and suggestions and held talks with all party clubs in the Canton of Sarajevo Assembly – stated the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Canton of Sarajevo Admir Katica.
Among the biggest changes compared to previous laws is the introduction of auxiliary police in the Canton of Sarajevo, which will be an integral part of the regular police. It will consist of members who, for a limited period of time, assist regular police officers in carrying out police tasks.
The amendments to the Canton of Sarajevo Law on Internal Affairs introduce for the first time the work of the Helicopter Unit as a special organizational unit of the Canton of Sarajevo Interior Ministry and regulate the use of aircraft. The Canton of Sarajevo Interior Ministry has just completed a two-year training course for its first pilots and aircraft mechanics in Montenegro, followed by professional training in the USA and Singapore. S
An important change is also the one that allows employment in the police for people with higher education, so now candidates who have achieved at least 240 ECTS credits in the criminal, criminological, security and legal professions can apply for the position of “junior inspector”.
The amendments also allow for the police commissioner to be replaced by multiple police officers in the future in the event of his/her absence or termination of his/her mandate.
The amendments to the Law on Police Officers of the Canton of Sarajevo have created the conditions for faster advancement in the police. Until now, it took four years for some ranks to advance from a lower to a higher rank. Now this period is being shortened to two years. This is also important because new personnel cannot be hired until the positions that have been filled are ‘vacated’.
The amendments will enable the Canton of Sarajevo Police Administration to send police officers for education at higher education institutions in the country and abroad, which will provide the Police Administration with professional, educated personnel.
Today, the Canton of Sarajevo also received a new Law on the Acquisition, Possession and Carrying of Weapons, which, in addition to increasing the safety of citizens, also means harmonization with international standards and acts of the European Union.
– In the future, a permit to carry weapons will not be available to persons against whom a criminal investigation is underway for acts punishable by a prison sentence of five or more years. Permits will also not be available to persons against whom an investigation is underway for violence or if, in accordance with the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence, a protective measure has been imposed on them – said Minister Katica.
One of the key changes in the law is the control health examinations of persons who hold a permit to acquire weapons.
– From now on, everyone who has a permit to acquire weapons will undergo health examinations every five years to determine their health, instead of every ten years as previously provided by the law – explained the minister.
Also, the time in which a family member or guardian must register and hand over weapons to the police has been reduced from 60 to 30 days, the Protocol and Press Service of the Canton of Sarajevo announced.
