PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 12 October 2012 – Today the OSCE Mission in Kosovo completed its assistance to the Police Inspectorate. The announcement was made by the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Jean-Claude Schlumberger, the Minister of Interior, Bajram Rexhepi and the Chief Executive Officer of the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo, Fitim Shishani.

In 2006, the OSCE Mission helped define the role of the Inspectorate, and has since then supported the development of its structures and professional capacities. The Inspectorate now functions as an independent police oversight agency within the Interior Ministry in charge of monitoring and responding to reports and complaints about alleged police misconduct.

“This is one of the best examples of the co-operation between the OSCE and Kosovo institutions,” said Schlumberger. “In line with the OSCE Mission’s mandate we have helped establish and develop the Inspectorate, and after the six years of hard work it has developed into a sustainable and professional oversight institution with a clear role and mandate.”

Schlumberger also stressed the important role of the Inspectorate in helping protect human rights and improving the quality of the police services.

Co-operation between the OSCE Mission and the Inspectorate will continue in the wider framework of the OSCE’s support to the police which includes advance training and development of strategies in the areas of community policing and organized crime combating.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with human right protection and promotion, democracy building and security and public safety sector development.