OSCE Mission supports combatting cybercrime in Montenegro

An OSCE-supported regional conference presented the first guide on cybercrime designed to serve as a tool for the judiciary, prosecution and police. The two-day event, which took place on 10-11 April 2014 in Przno, Becici, was organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, US Embassy in Podgorica and the Judiciary Training Centre.

Some 45 judges, prosecutors and police representatives from Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro had the opportunity to exchange their opinions, experiences, and best practices in the area of implementation of the Criminal Procedure Code related to combating cybercrime.

Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Ambassador Janina Hrebickova said:  “Cyber-crime is a complex topic, which takes many forms and makes use of advanced technologies that many of us do not understand.  As technology evolves, , on a daily basis really, those involved in combating criminal activity must keep up.”

“We recognized the need for making a brief guide to introduce the basics of modern criminal law and criminal law practice, in the context of high technological crime, for public prosecu-tors, judges and police.”

Hrebickova  reiterated the OSCE’s continued support to Montenegro’s rule of law efforts, and said this conference would serve as a practical tool to facilitate them.

To follow up on the regional conference, the OSCE Mission will organize training course in June, in order to improve participants’ knowledge in the sensitive area of cybercrime.