President calls for "changes in Serbian police"

President calls for "changes in Serbian police"

Addressing the public, Nikolić called on the government to appoint responsible people to the key offices in the police so as to ensure safe life of all citizens.

“The citizens of Serbia rightly expect from its government to provide them with a safe life without fear of becoming victims to violence one day,” Nikolić said, adding that their trust in the police depends on its efficiency, which requires continuation of reforms and creation of an efficient and depoliticized police that will serve the people.

The president underlined that he is not satisfied with the fight against crime within the police and combating crime in the streets - drug dealers and cartels.

“In the fight against this calamity, which is causing great harm to our children, no important results have been achieved lately since the crime groups have collaborators and moles in the Ministry of the Interior and thus succeed to avoid facing law and justice,” Nikolić said, adding that on the other hand there are many policemen who have given their lives and ruined their heath protecting the security of their country and people.

Because of them, it is particularly important that moral values, virtues, integrity and justice are restored within the institution responsible for internal security, Nikolić said.

"Unfortunately, due to certain individuals' unprofessional approach to their work in the police, the proper fight against crime and corruption is not possible," the president noted, calling on the government to appoint true fighters against the crime and thus ensure that the responsible people do the job entrusted to them.

“Police must not deal with media manipulations, and must not operate under pressure of police grades or political power, but must protect everyone under the law and ensure that no one is above the law,” Nikolić said.

"It must be completely clear who was chosen by the people to deal with politics, and who is responsible for peace and security of all citizens of Serbia, " Nikolić concluded, voicing the confidence that the Serbian government will act efficiently, and requesting from it to inform him about the taken steps, so that the Council for National Security could also voice its opinion on the report.

Nikolić's address came after a meeting he held with Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić and Interior Minister Nebojša Stefanović earlier in the day.

A session of the Bureau for Coordination of Security Services has been scheduled for 15:00 CET on Friday, after which either Vučić or Stefanović will address the public.