OSCE Mission and Kosovo authorities inaugurate police inspectorate

PRISTINA, 28 June 2006 - The PISG Ministry of Internal Affairs and the OSCE Mission today inaugurated the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo (PIK), a body designed to ensure that the police are accountable to the people it serves and which will investigate and punish any misconduct.

At the inauguration, co-organized with the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG) Ministry of Internal Affairs, a Chief Inspector and an initial staff of 20 inspectors were appointed. Their first task will be to compile an annual report on the conduct of the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) by January 2007.

"The Inspectorate will strive to assist the KPS in its development as a democratic institution and its role should be viewed by KPS officers as helpful towards improving performance of police operations" said Fatmir Rexhepi, PISG Minister of Internal Affairs. "It will also help KPS improve its efficiency, effectiveness and compliance with the applicable law."

The OSCE Mission has been working with the PISG Ministry and UN Mission in Kosovo to help structure the Inspectorate and develop the legislation to regulate its work. The Mission will also assist with a comprehensive training programme for the Inspectorate's multi-ethnic and gender-balanced team.

"I am pleased that our Organization which helped establish the KPS, is now also able to assist with the establishment and the evolution of the Police Inspectorate," said Ambassador Werner Wnendt, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

The first stage of training will focus on the Inspectorate's function of inspecting management performance, while the second stage will address the investigations into potential serious misconduct by the police officers.

The Police Inspectorate of Kosovo is the first of its kind in the region. Minister Rexhepi, therefore, urged the police officers to view its establishment as an advantage rather than an intrusion in their work.

"Aiding the work of the Inspectorate will complement and consolidate our support to the Ministry and the KPS in the efforts to provide democratic policing for all people living in Kosovo, where the police support the interests of all people," added Ambassador Wnendt.