Serbia's citizens expect police to continue reforms, survey commissioned by OSCE Mission and Interior Ministry shows

BELGRADE, 20 February 2009 - Serbia's citizens perceive that the work of the police service has developed positively and they expect the police to continue reforms, according to the results of a new survey presented today by the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the Interior Ministry.

A representative sample of 1,500 citizens throughout Serbia was surveyed about the issues they perceive as the main threats to their personal safety. According to the poll findings, around 50 per cent of the citizens have noticed changes in the work of the police over the past five years and the majority of them think that these changes are positive. The margin of error was 2.7 per cent.

"Citizens' expectations of the police are obviously high. The police reform process needs to build upon these wishes," said the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Hans Ola Urstad.

"We are pleased to support the Interior Ministry in its progressive and steady work towards reforms, further efficiency and openness as it strives for excellence in the service delivered to its citizens."

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic added: "Our experts are analysing the results of this survey, which will contribute to our reform efforts aimed at strengthening professionalism and transparency of the police service."

This survey on the public perception of the police is the first on this topic in Serbia since 2002. It was commissioned by the OSCE Mission and the Interior Ministry and conducted through person-to-person interviews by the agency "Strategic Marketing" in December 2008.