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OSCE Mission to Montenegro facilitated annual meeting of “Police Persons of Trust”

14 November 2019
The annual meeting of “Police Persons of Trust”, organized by Montenegrin Police Directorate with the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, the Centre for Integrity in the Defence Sector (CIDS) from Norway and Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), was held on 13 November 2019 in Podgorica. (OSCE) Photo details

The annual meeting of ‘“Police Persons of Trust’”, organized by Montenegrin Police Directorate with the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, the Centre for Integrity in the Defence Sector (CIDS)  from Norway and Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), was held on 13 November 2019 in Podgorica.

Some 30 participants from the Police Directorate and the Agency for National Security, as well as experts from Serbia, Slovenia and Norway attended the discussion on the police persons of trust mechanisms introduced to Montenegrin Police in 2018.

Biljana Dulović, Head of the Human Resources and Legal Affairs Sevice in the Police Directorate, explained that police persons of trust are officers that are responsible for promoting gender mainstreaming within the police service and flaging discrimination cases. “Highly motivated officers are needed for this demanding position. Police persons of trust  mechanisms are a good tool to support  police officers in their work and increase public trust,” said Dulović.

Dragica Vučinić, OSCE National Programme Officer for Security and Co-operation, said that a  professional, committed, informed officer is the pillar of effective and democratic policing. “The Mission supports gender mainstreaming in the Police. Those who have agreed to serve as police persons of trust are officers with personal and professional integrity. They enjoy the confidence of colleagues and should be honoured for accepting this obligation,” said Vučinić.

Odd Berner Malme, Programme manager in CIDS, said: “Women are more hesitant than men in applying for a promotion and more likely to doubt their qualifications. My experience is that you have to encourage your female colleagues to apply for higher positions. One model could be introducing a mentoring approach and promoting gender champions.” Malme also said that if there is no progress in this area, the quota model could be considered as a tool to promote women to senior management positions.

Participants and experts from Serbia, Slovenia and Norway shared best practices, challenges and similar mechanisms that provide support services to police officers at work and privately.  

The meeting concluded acknowledging that police persons of trust need management support, personal motivation and continuity as well as mentoring support.