Bosnia and Herzegovina Border Police Faces Largest Officer Shortage, Lacking 738 Officers, with 125 Retiring This Year!

(Patria) - The Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently short of 738 police officers, and during this year, 125 police officers will cease their employment due to reaching 40 years of pensionable service. This is data that Patria obtained from the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina in December 2024.

In September 2024, a public advertisement was issued for the recruitment of 25 cadets for the XIII (13th) class with at least a VI level of education for the second entry level with the rank of 'Junior Inspector' and 125 cadets with at least a IV level of education for the first entry level with the rank of 'Police Officer'.

The testing of physical abilities and the verification of morphological status and swimming skills are currently underway, conducted by the Agency for Education and Professional Training of Cadres. The verification of morphological status and swimming skills is being carried out at the swimming pool of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Educational Sciences. The tests last until January 18.

The Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been facing a deficit of necessary personnel for years, and the procedures for cadet recruitment and training last for more than a year.

The 2020 recruitment process, which led to a court case against Rejhan Raković, and several other individuals for rigging the competition and taking bribes for cadet admission, was only concluded in 2023. In October of that year, 122 cadets (100 for the rank of police officer and 22 for the rank of junior inspector) began their training at the Agency for Education and Professional Training of Cadres in Mostar. After their training, they were assigned to units within the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In October 2023, a public call was issued for the 12th class of cadets, and in September 2024, for the 13th class. However, considering the lengthy procedure from application to the start of employment, it is necessary to work on increasing the capacity of the Agency for Education and Professional Training of Cadres or to attempt to amend the law to allow police officers who meet all conditions to extend their employment, i.e., to postpone their retirement.

Although this has been discussed before, amendments to the law have never been proposed.