Complaints against the Slovenian police

on the problem of independence and procedural impartiality

Abstract

Purpose: The paper focuses on the problem of independence and impartiality of the complaints procedure against police work in Slovenia. Relying on the findings of the targeted research project, we address and examine the concerns regarding the adequacy of the current format and indicate the possibilities for legislative changes and reform. Design/Methods/Approach: We carried out an analysis of the legal regulation of the complaints procedure regarding the work of police officers and the results of previous research in the field. Based on the findings, we conducted a structured interview with a general questionnaire in written form and oral interviews with the people who perform the complaints procedures. Findings: The current regulation of complaints has advantages and disadvantages. According to the interviewees and in line with a wider professional consensus, complaints procedures should in future be carried out outside the Ministry of the Interior ("the Ministry") and the police. This would mean that complaints procedures would gain what they lack at present, namely the appearance of impartiality and formal/institutional independence. Research Limitations/Implications: In our research, we interviewed employees of the Ministry and representatives of the public who are involved in proceedings before the complaints panels of the Ministry. In future research, other participants (e.g. the complainants and police officers) should also be interviewed for a more comprehensive view of the issue. Originality/Value: We examined the views of the employees of the Ministry who carry out complaints procedures in order to establish the validity of concerns regarding the adequacy of current regulation and we indicated the possibilities for reform of the current procedures.

Keywords

complaints against police work;procedure;independence;impartiality;Slovenia;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2020
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UM FVV - Faculty of Criminal Justice
UDC:	351.74:342.7(497.4)
COBISS:	66335235
ISSN:	1580-0253
Views:	437
Downloads:	16
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary title:	Pritožbe zoper delo policije
Secondary abstract:	Namen prispevka: Namen prispevka je predstaviti ugotovitve ciljnega raziskovalnega projekta "Učinkovitost sistemskega nadzora nad policijo na področju spoštovanja človekovih ter zakonskih in strokovnih standardov policijskega dela (V5-1942)". Prispevek se osredotoča na problem neodvisnosti in nepristranskosti pritožbenega postopka zoper delo policije. Metode: Izvedli smo analizo pravne ureditve instituta pritožbe zoper delo policistov in rezultatov raziskav s tega področja, ki so bile že izvedene. Na podlagi ugotovitev smo izvedli strukturirani intervju s splošnim vprašalnikom v pisni obliki in ustne intervjuje z izvajalci pritožbenih postopkov. Ugotovitve: Veljavna ureditev pritožbenega postopka ima tako prednosti kot tudi pomanjkljivosti. Po mnenju intervjuvancev in stroke na splošno je treba v perspektivi pritožbeni mehanizem izločiti iz Ministrstva za notranje zadeve (MNZ) in policije, s čimer bi mu zagotovili to, česar v veljavni ureditvi nima - videz nepristranskosti in formalno/institucionalno neodvisnost. Omejitve/uporabnost raziskave: V raziskavi smo intervjuvali sodelujoče v pritožbenih postopkih, ki potekajo pred senati MNZ. V prihodnje bi veljalo intervjuvati, poleg uslužbencev MNZ in predstavnikov javnosti, tudi pritožnike in policiste. Izvirnost/pomembnost prispevka: Preverili smo stališča izvajalcev pritožbenih postopkov o (ne)utemeljenosti pomislekov glede ustreznosti veljavne ureditve in nakazali možnosti za morebitno reformo obstoječega formata pritožbenega mehanizma.
Secondary keywords:	policijsko delo;pritožbe;policijski postopki;neodvisnost;nepristranskost;Slovenija;
Type (COBISS):	Scientific work
Pages:	str. 361-374
Volume:	ǂLetn. ǂ22
Issue:	ǂšt. ǂ4
Chronology:	2020
ID:	13011146