Policing the Roma Community - An Example of Best Practice

Policing the Roma community requires a special approach and flexibility due to the specific nature of Roma communities. Two bomb attacks that took place in the Dobruska vas and Zabjek-Brezje Roma communities in 2005, in which two Roma were killed, represents a milestone in the beginning of effective problem solving in the area covered by the Novo mesto Police Directorate. The police started implementing a deliberate and systematic approach, in which all disturbing factors that had a significant impact on the deterioration of security/safety were defined. The police began with the implementation of community policing, it increased their role of an interface in the cooperation with other actors and removed root causes which led to security/safety issues. The police managed to ensure a greater feeling of security/safety among residents by applying consistent measures to provide the security/safety of people and their property in areas inhabited by Roma communities. These measures were implemented in the form of daily police presence and an increase in the visibility of police work, as well as measures aimed at preventing and detecting deviant behaviours. The purpose of subsequent measures was to enhance partnership and cooperation and to promote the implementation of preventive activities with involvement of other actors and institutions. Police work in security/safety committees and multidisciplinary teams resulted in a successful joint problem solving, timely mutual exchange of information and the effective elimination of root causes which led to security/safety issues. At the same time, the police also started implementing education and training courses for police officers working in Roma communities, as well as others officials who work with these communities. The implementation of community policing has resulted in higher levels of security/safety in the Roma, as well as in all other local communities.