Katica and Hajdarević claim Sarajevo is a safe city: We do not have organized groups that kill and butcher people

(Patria) - The emergency session of the KS Assembly on the security situation continued today with answers from the Minister of Internal Affairs, Admir Katica, to numerous questions posed by deputies on March 29th.

Katica stated that they are doing everything to strengthen the Police Administration of the MUP KS in terms of material-technical resources and personnel, and that they are working on mass recruitment of new police officers.

The minister disagreed that the security situation has deteriorated, as indicators show a decrease in overall crime. He took the opportunity to say that the media contributes to the spread of information about certain events, thereby creating a perception that the security situation has deteriorated.

"We understand the citizens' concerns because events that cause insecurity have occurred in a relatively short period. We must acknowledge this. Statistics are not more important to us than citizens' opinions, but they are our tool by which we adapt our work to the problems we have on the ground," said Katica.

When asked when traffic regulation would be increased, the minister said it had already begun.

"Our police officers are on the main roads, especially in the morning and afternoon during rush hours," he said.

When asked if he felt the need to resign from his party, Katica said he did not, nor had his party (NiP) demanded it.

Katica also spoke about the case of a lifeless body found in the Miljacka River at the end of January, stating that there were no indications of a criminal offense, but that the lack of information created a different picture, suggesting something mysterious.

He said he would insist on introducing a probation service that would monitor perpetrators of criminal offenses while they are on probation, in order to prevent recidivism.

Fatmir Hajdarević, the police commissioner, stated that 350 bulletproof vests, procured through a tender in 2019, are not in use.

"The KS Prosecutor's Office is handling that case, but I can say they are not in use," said Hajdarević.

The commissioner stated that it can be justifiably claimed that Sarajevo is a safe city.

"There have been events that have disturbed citizens. We had the brutal murder of Faris Pendek, there were shootings, there were bombings. KS is the safest city in the region, meaning Serbia, Croatia, North Macedonia. We do not have organized groups that kill, butcher people, in an organized manner like the countries in the region do," said the commissioner.

Hajdarević stated that the traffic police lack material-technical resources such as radar devices, computer equipment, marked interceptors...