Ministry of the Interior Hired 302 Police Trainees

On Friday, 302 police officers-trainees were assigned to police stations across Croatia, with the highest number in Zagreb, where a ceremony was held at the summer stage Histrioni in Opatovina, attended by Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović and Chief of Police Nikola Milina.

“You have chosen a job that is actually a calling, you take on the responsibility for the safety of Croatian citizens, as well as citizens of the European Union, you will undergo mentoring training through which you will gain new experiences and knowledge from older colleagues,” said Božinović to the police officers, adding that they can expect continuous work from him as a minister and the Government on raising standards, improving working conditions, and the quality of equipment.

The Ministry of the Interior has hired 525 new police officers this year.

The new forces begin working in the police today after taking an oath in July as participants of the 12th generation of the police school. Of the 302 young police officers, 63 have been assigned to police stations, traffic police, and airport police in Zagreb.

“We are fulfilling what we said, your employment on September 1 is our priority, and today that priority has been achieved,” said the minister, adding that with this intake, the Ministry of the Interior has hired 525 new policewomen and policemen this year.

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He added that through a strategic approach, they are jointly building a modern police service that cares for public order and peace on the streets of Croatian cities, enables fluidity at borders, responds to growing challenges and global threats, and ensures a safe tourist season.

The importance of police work, the minister said, has been recognized by the Ministry of Tourism and the Croatian Tourist Board, so part of the funds from the increased tourist tax in 2018 will be directed towards additional security for domestic and foreign tourists, and through amendments to the law on the residence fee by the end of the year, a permanent distribution of funds for visitor safety projects will be ensured.

Projects such as “Days of Kindness in Traffic” or “Safe on Vacation” have already shown significant results and represent the foundation for future cooperation, the minister emphasized.

Milina Announces Proactive Approach

Chief of Police Nikola Milina stated that there is no greater satisfaction for the leaders of the police than welcoming new colleagues into the system.

Considering that he mentioned problems in the police the day before, Milina, responding to journalists’ questions, said that the police system is vast and that there is a need for improvement within the system. “One of the next things we will work on to improve the system concerns a more proactive approach, rather than a reactive approach of the police to security events, although I must emphasize that the police system is stable and functions well,” said Milina.

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We need the intake of new police officers, and we will particularly focus on the Zagreb police, where last year there was a shortage of 69 officers compared to newly hired and retired police officers.

One of the policewomen who was accepted into service stated to reporters that it is her greatest honor to serve the citizens of this country. She believes that women can perform police work just as well as men, if not better, because, she explained, women are perfectionists, pay more attention to their work, and do not take it lightly.