police station visitors REGIONAL REPORT EUROPe 2006 ABOUT altus global alliance
FACTS AND FIGURES
• 6 Member organizations working across 5 continents
• 2 Associate member organizations
• 6 Regional Representatives connecting 300 staff
• 1 Secretariat with 3 staff members INDEM mission of altus Altus is a global alliance working across continents and from a multicultural perspective to improve public safety and justice.
Altus places special emphasis on police accountability and the quality of police oversight, serving as a source of knowledge and innovation for government officials, human rights activists and citizens around the world, concerned about the effective and fair control of policing. “A complaint from a civilian is a free advice to do it better.”
(Chief of Police, Weert, The Netherlands, PSVW 2006)
REPORT OF RESULTS IN EUROPe
Police Station Visitors Week 29 October to 4 November 2006
Contents About Altus Page 02
Contents Page 05
Foreword Page 06 “A complaint from a Section 1. Summary Page 08 Section 2. Why a global event? Page 10
civilian is a free advice Section 3. Which police stations participated? Page 12 Section 4. How approvals from the police were obtained. Page 14 to do it better.” Section 5. How are the scores collected and calculated? Page 16
Section 6. Background information Page 17 (Chief of Police, Weert, The Netherlands, PSVW 2006) • 6.1 Belgium
• 6.2 Germany
• 6.3 Hungary
• 6.4 Latvia
• 6.5 The Netherlands
• 6.6 Russia
• 6.7 United Kingdom
Section 7. Who were the visitors? Page 20
Section 8. Which police stations scored the highest? Page 22
Section 9. What good practices were revealed? Page 28
Foreword
The Police Station Visitors Week (PSVW)...
...was organised by Altus Global Alliance for the first time on a global scale in 2006. This unique initiative, which is likely to become an annual event, gave civilians an oppor- tunity to visit local police stations and to assess the services provided by police. Nearly two thousand civilians visited in total over 450 police stations in 23 countries around the world. Besides giving civilians the opportunity to become better acquainted with the police, it gave police insight into how their services are evaluated and how to further improve them. Altus aims to recognise those police stations that visitors rated most highly and share their practices nationally, regionally and globally.
This publication covers the per continent, but the basic results of the Police Station principles are similar everywhere. Visitors Week in Europe. Despite the difference, police Nearly 300 civilians visited services are becoming more in total 75 police stations in professional, more effective in Belgium, Germany, Hungary, dealing with crime, and more Latvia, The Netherlands, Russia, respectful in their treatment and the United Kingdom. This of civilians. As part of these report provides information changes, police are becoming about why and how this global more accountable for all three event was organised, which dimensions of their performances: police stations participated, professionalism, effectiveness, who the visitors were, how and respect. In the member the scores have been collected states of the Council of Europe ¹, and calculated, which police police are being held account- stations scored the highest, and able to the state, from which it which ‘good practices’ were derives its policies and powers. revealed in Europe by civilians. Accordingly, there are state In democratic societies, police bodies to monitor and control are responsible for various the police. Considering that activities. The way in which police activities to a large police provide service to the extent are performed in close public varies per country and contact with the public and
In February 2007 the PSVW Regional Reports The Police Station Visitors Week (PSVW)... on Africa, Asia, Latin America and North America will be published on www.altus.org “Considering that police activities to and in April 2007 the a large extent are performed in close Global Report. contact with the public and that police On April 5th, 2007 a efficiency is dependent on public special Global Award support, police accountability vis-à-vis Ceremony will be held the public is crucial.” in The Hague for the global award winning station. From each region one single police that police efficiency is Regional Representative at the dependent on public support, INDEM Foundation (Moscow), station that received police accountability vis-à-vis we would like to thank you for the highest overall the public is crucial. Therefore, your interest/participation in according to recommendation the Police Station Visitors Week score will be present 62 of the ‘European Code and we hope to count on you and an independent of Police Ethics’ 2 : There are later this year for PSVW 2007! several means of rendering jury will make the final the police accountable to the judgement about which public: they can be direct or channelled through bodies police station should representing the public. receive the overall global With the Police Station Visitors Mr. Georgi Satarov Week, Altus aims to strengthen Director, INDEM Foundation award. the accountability of police to the citizens they serve in Europe, but also in other parts of the world. ¹ Including Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, The Netherlands, Russia and the United Kingdom. On behalf of the Altus team, 2 Recommendation Rec (2001)10 and especially Saskia Pubben, Mrs. Femke Hofstee-van der Meulen of the Committee of Ministers to Altus Project Coordinator at the European Director Altus Global member states on the European Altus Secretariat (The Hague) Alliance Code of Police Ethics. Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on and Olga Chigareva, Altus February 2007 19 September 2001 at the 765th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies.
Summary
“The visit was perceived by most visitors as an opportunity to learn more about the work of the police and ask concrete questions. Some visitors only came out of curiosity to see the detention area.” ( PSVW visitor, Germany )
In a one-week period starting on October 29th 2006, nearly two thousand people visited more than 450 police stations in 23 countries around the globe. This unique global event - the Police Station Visitors Week- was organized to assess the quality of service delivered in the participating police departments, to identify some of the best practices in use by police, and to strengthen the accountability of police to the local citizens whom they serve.
Altus truly believes that common the Altus website. Using this kit, citizens’ opinions are important the participants in the Police Sta- for making the police more tion Visitors Week were able to accountable. Since the scores place their individual judgments are based on the visitor’s about the quality of service individual perceptions about at their own police stations in the police stations, the results national, regional, and global Police station in Hungary, PSVW 2006, are not a rating of the station’s context. Photographer Bálázs Tóth performance, but are meant The scores and reports from to channel the local citizens’ the police stations which par- opinions in a way that is useful ticipated in Europe - Belgium, to police departments. Germany, Hungary, Latvia, The The visitors used a special Netherlands, Russia, and United Visitor’s kit produced by Altus, Kingdom - are combined and following protocols that were analyzed in this Regional Report. the same around the world. There are also Regional Reports This kit was available in 15 produced for Africa 3, Asia 4, Latin languages. It included a scoring America 5, and North America 6. system that allowed each of the These reports can be used by
3 Africa: Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Niger, visitors to rate the police station police and community residents Nigeria, and South Africa on 20 questions. throughout these countries to 4 Asia: India, Malaysia, South Korea, Immediately after each visit, the discuss the elements of police and Sri Lanka visitors answered the questions service that have most impressed 5 Latin America: Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru about what they observed and local visitors. This should help to 6 North America: Canada and USA their answers were collected via spread good practices, improve
< Member of Dutch Parliament visits police station Hoefkade, The Hague, PSVW 2006
relations between police and (Comité P) and cooperated civilians, and strengthen the in The Netherlands with the Altus Global Alliance used accountability of police to the following community organi the ratings supplied by the people they serve. zations: Stichting Wel.Kom, visitors to calculate an over- Stichting Punt Welzijn, Stich all score for each station, as In the European countries ting Rijnstad, Stichting Impuls well as separate scores in that participated in the Police and Stichting Welsaen. In the five categories of service: Station Visitors Week, the United Kingdom the visits were visits were organized by Altus arranged by staff from Penal • Community Orientation Global Alliance in cooperation Reform International, an Altus • Physical Conditions with the police departments. Associate Member in London, • Equal Treatment of the Public In some countries partner and in Cumbria people from • Transparency and Accountability organizations arranged the the University of Central • Detention Conditions visits: in Hungary the visits were Lancashire helped in the arranged by the Hungarian recruitment of visitors. Helsinki Committee. In Latvia the Baltic Anticriminal Antiterrorist Forum and Riga State University assisted in the organization this event. The partner organizations “The visit changed my opinion about the in Russia were: Komi Human Right Organization ‘Memor- work of police positively. Unexpectedly we ial’, South-Siberian Human found out that the equipment is modern, Right Center, Public Organiza- tion ‘Chuvash Republic’, Chita the rooms are spacious. My attitude to Human Right Center, Kazan Human Right Center, the policemen became better in general.” ‘Civil control’, in Saint-Peters- (PSVW visitor, Russia) burg, and ‘Will freedom’, in Moscow. Altus Secretariat in The Hague was assisted in Belgium by the ‘Standing Police Monitoring Committee’
Why a global event?
Participating The service that police provide is changing all around the Countries 2006 world. On every continent, the best police services are be- coming more professional, more effective in dealing with 01. Belgium crime, and more respectful in their treatment of civilians. 02. Benin As part of these changes, police are also becoming more 03. Brazil accountable for all three dimensions of their performance - 04. Canada professionalism, effectiveness, and respect. 05. Chile The Police Station Visitors Week strengthens the account- 06. Germany ability of police to the citizens they serve. 07. Ghana 08. Hungary 09. India 10. Latvia 11. Liberia All kinds of people pass ance, the support, and trust of 12. Malaysia through police stations daily their communities. 13. Mexico and spending time there - even For community organizations 14. The Netherlands just an hour - generates im- and other elements of civil 15. Niger pressions about whether that society, participation can also 16. Nigeria station is well run and provides broaden their dialogue with 17. Peru good service. But until now, police services. Upon request 18. Russia there has been no easy-to-use or by invitation, community 19. South Africa tool that can immediately organizations, NGOs, and other 20. South Korea capture and interpret these civil society representatives 21. Sri Lanka valuable impressions. can organize visits to police 22. United Kingdom Inspired by structured visits stations in order to learn more 23. United States common in the fields of about the daily operations and education and industry, Altus highlight problems which make designed the Police Station public-police relations difficult. Visitors Kit to evaluate the This global event was designed related to the areas of human degree to which a station is to identify good practices rights and police accountability designed and operated to carried out in police stations The answers recorded in each country are based on individual serve the public. In the future, on every continent, serving a perceptions and expectations improvements at the participat- wide variety of communities. of local visitors. In this way, the ing stations can be monitored Police services, governments, Police Station Visitors Week is through repeated visits, by the and the civil society can use the organized to bridge the gap same or different individuals. results to identify and acknowl- between the local realities For police institutions, par- edge police stations with good of policing and the general ticipating in the Police Station working practices, which can principles of human rights and Visitors Week increases their serve as an example for others standards of practice to which transparency, showing their to follow. most countries of the world willingness to identify prob- subscribe. The kit, including lems and make adjustments The questions in the kit are the questionnaire is in several to the services delivered by based on a wide variety of languages available on the the stations. Furthermore, international standards and Altus website: participation helps the police agreements that are relevant strengthen their public accept- to policing, especially those. www.altus.org
10 Detention cell police station Hengelo, PSVW 2006 > Participating Countries 2006
“We were explained about the higher authorities to whom the police are accountable; it was very interesting to learn all this as you seldom hear about these things in daily life.” (PSVW visitor, The Netherlands)
11 Which police stations participated
“It made me never want to commit a crime!” (PSVW visitor, United Kingdom)
Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom participated in the PSVW 2006 >
Russia participated in the PSVW 2006 >
In Europe 75 police stations were visited in 7 countries by 292 visitors. These countries were: Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, The Netherlands, Russia, and United Kingdom. Most of the police stations were located in urban areas (cities). The Police Station Visitors Week was widely announced on the Altus website, press releases were send out to national and local press agencies and schools, community groups and social welfare organizations were invited to participate in this global event. Since policing is a state event in most countries a formal approval for visits to police stations was taken from either the police heads of the respective countries or from police stations on an individual basis.
12 Police stations that participated in the Police Station Visitors Week
Belgium 09. Loosduinen 21. 77th district, 10. Wijkteam Breda Zuid-Oost Saint-Petersburg 01. Mechelen 11. Weert 22. 17th district, 12. Roermond-Centrum Saint-Petersburg Germany 13. Hengelo OV Centrum-Zuid 23. 64th district, 14. Zaandijk Saint-Petersburg 01. Köln Chorweiler, Cologne 15. Purmerend 24. 51 st.Moscow district, 02. Köln Muhlheim, Cologne Saint-Petersburg 25. Central district, Russia Novokuznetsk Hungary 26. Kuibyshev district, 01. Ingodinskii, Chita Novokuznetsk 01. Budapest 5th District 02. Zheleznodorozhnii, Chita 27. Jakimanka, Moscow 02. Budapest 19th District 03. Chernovskii, Chita 28. Arbat, Moscow 03. Szeged 04. Chitinskii, Chita 29. Kitai-gorod, Moscow 04. Szombathely 05. Sosonovoborovskoe, Chita 30. Vykhino, Moscow 05. Veszprém 06. Kadalinskoe, Chita 31. Chertanovo Centralnoe, 07. Uletovskii, Chita Moscow 08. Central, Chita 32. Novocheboksarskii, Latvia 09. Udiono, Kazan, Chuvash Republic Tatarsta Republic 33. Kanashcki, Cheboksary, 01. Liepai 10. Dalnii, Kazan, Chuvash Republic 02. Limbazhskiy region Tatarsta Republic 34. Kanashskii, Kanash, 03. Yuramla 11. Janeevo, Kazan, Chuvash Republic 04. Ekabpilskiy region Tatarsta Republic 35. Kaliniskoe, Cheboksary, 05. Riga airport 12. Savetskoe, Kazan, Chuvash Republic 06. Ogrskyi region Tatarsta Republic 36. Leninskii district, Samara 07. Rizhskiy region 13. Moskovskoe, Kazan, 37. Octjabrskii district, Samara 08. Tsesiskiy region Elgava Tatarsta Republic 38. Kirovskii district, Samara 09. Saulkrasty 14. Ezhvinskii, Syktyvkar, 39. Promyshlennii district, 10. Kurzemskiy Riga suburb Komi Republic Samara 11. Elgava 15. Lesozavodskoi, Syktyvkar, Komi Republic 16. Krasnozatonskii, Syktyvkar, United Kingdom The Netherlands Komi Republic 17. Sovetskii, Syktyvkar, 01. Bischopsgate, London 01. Wijkteam Surinameplein Komi Republic 02. Penrith, Cumbria 02. Eindhoven 18. Pechorskii, Syktyvkar, 03. Geldrop-Nuenen Komi Republic 04. Helmond-Centrum 19. Centralnii, Syktyvkar, 05. Emmen-Centrum Komi Republic 06. Hoogeveen-West 20. 84th district, 07. Hoefkade Saint-Petersburg 08. Segbroek
13 How approvals Belgium from the police Belgium joined the PSVW only a few weeks before the event took place. Altus Secretariat were obtained was assisted by ‘Standing Police Monitoring Committee’ (Comité P) in Belgium to receive approval from two police stations: Mechelen and Sint Niklaas. Due to the fact that the PSVW fell within a national holiday week only the police station in Mechelen received in total 8 visitors.
Latvia Hungary
In Latvia, the visits were organized by the The Altus Secretariat approached the Hungarian Baltic Anti-Criminal and Anti-Terrorist Forum Helsinki Committee (HHC) to organize the Police (BAAF) in cooperation with the Latvian Station Visitors Week in Hungary. The HHC Ministry of Interior and the INDEM Founda- contacted the National Police Headquarters by tion, a member of Altus Global Alliance. letter in which they shortly described the project. At a meeting in Riga, organized by BAAF in The National Police Headquarters approved the July 2006, the issues of the approval of the project and appointed a person to be in charge project’s activities by police authorities and of organizing the program. The HHC organized other administrative issues were solved. a meeting with the police where all practical An interagency group of experts on matters related to the project were discussed. The project implementation, including project HHC could choose in which parts of the country staff and police authorities’ representatives they wanted to set up the visiting groups. After was established; geography of the project recruiting the visitors the HHC informed the police in Latvia and time schedule were defined. which police stations were chosen and the police In Latvia, 11 police stations were visited. informed these particular stations. Some days Latvia is located in the northern part of before the visit the group leaders contacted “their Europe and has borders with four states: own” station for further details about the visits. Estonia, Russia, Belarus, and Liuthania. In total 5 police stations were visited by 15 visitors.
Germany
In Germany, the visits were organized by a student the second largest station of the city responsible of the Friedrich-Wilhelms University of Bonn in for an area with about 230.000 habitants. Both cooperation with a staff from the Vera Institute police stations are located in so-called problem- of Justice in New York, a member of Altus Global atic social areas (Soziale Brennpunkte) with more Alliance. The police Press Service Office of Co- than 70% of the population with a non-German logne, approved the visits and they chose the background - mostly Turkish and Kurdish people. police stations to be visited. The first police station The main problems of this low income area are was Main station Köln Chorweiler from the Police unemployment, domestic violence, drug abuse, Inspection North West Cologne. The second was drug dealing, youth violence, and robbery in the Main station Köln Mühlheim from the Police broadest sense. Most crimes do not occur in these Inspection North East Cologne - which is neighbourhoods but in downtown Cologne.
14 Russia
In September 2006, the INDEM Foundation that the date of the week should be shifted to requested an approval from the Russian Minister the first quarter of2 007. The police (especially of Interior for realization of the project in in Moscow) insisted that the visitors were from selected police stations in Russia. This request partner organizations, since they had some was supported by the Federal Ombudsman and negative experience with some individuals who the Public Department of Ministry of the Interior. behave aggressively and caused a lot of troubles It took a rather long time to pass the letter to the while trying to obtain their objectives. All groups Ministry through all the bureaucratic obstacles. of the visitors were accompanied by officials The response didn’t come on time and in fact from the Main Departments of Interior, who many visits were organized through private provided an access to the stations and lead the connections of local partner organizations of excursions through the stations. In Russia, INDEM. In some regions (Chita, Kazan, Kemerovo 39 stations were visited in eight regions of Russia, region) the coordinators managed to obtain an including Moscow region, Saint-Petersburg official access to the police stations with local region, Chita region, Samara region, Kemerevo authorities. A response from the Minister of the region, Tatarstan Republic, Komi Republic, and Interior was received a few days after the Week. Chuvash Republic. Unfortunately, in Samara the With reference to the national holiday (4th partner organization failed to organize groups of of November), the Deputy Minister suggested visitors and the visits were done by one person.
The Netherlands United Kingdom
In June 2006, the Altus Secretariat approached Altus Secretariat approached various police all the 25 Regional Police Forces in The forces in the UK. In the end, visits were Netherlands. Twelve Regional Police Forces arranged through contacts with Altus Associate were willing to participate and Altus kept in Member, Penal Reform International (PRI) contact with the heads of the Communication and the Students Union of the University of Department of the Police Forces for planning Central Lancashire. the visits. The police chose which stations could The police stations that participated were be visited and how many visitors groups they Bishopsgate Police Station in London and wanted to receive. In total, 29 individual police Penrith Police Station in Cumbria. Bishopsgate stations were willing to receive visitors, but only Police Station is managed by the City of London 15 stations were actually visited. The reason for Police - one of the three police services opera this was the lack of visitors; most visits were ting in the territory covered by Bishopsgate is planned during day-time so people who work particular in its nature, covering mainly the or go to school were unfortunately excluded. most important financial and business district All visitors were recruited through social and in the UK with 350,000 commuters. welfare organizations, clubhouses, schools, mu- The offices in the area are occupied mainly nicipalities, and local media. The eight Regional by large commercial entities. The population Police Forces that participated are: Amsterdam- visiting the police station is different to that Amstelland, Brabant Zuid-Oost, Drenthe, Haag- of the average police stations around the landen, Midden-West Brabant, Limburg-Noord, country, covering for most parts residential Twente, and Zaanstreek-Waterland. Most police areas. The police station in Penrith is managed stations were located in larger urban areas. by the Cumbria Police.
15 How are the scores collected and calculated?
Police stations were assessed by local citizens on a standardized tool – the Altus Visitors Kit. The kit equipped local citizens by providing a systematic method to guide their assessment of their local police station. Recognizing that social reality is neither static nor standardized, the method allows citizens perceptions about police stations to be recorded and compared across regions and populations. The questionnaire forms were collected through team leaders and the visits were verified by Altus or coordinating partner organizations in each country. The ratings were then fed into the Altus police station web system and scores automatically generated.
The form used during the Police Stations Visitors Week was based on the Likert Scale, in which the possible answers vary from 1 to 5.
The scores each answer are the following:
1. Totally inadequate (20 points) 2. Inadequate (40 points) 3. Adequate (60 points) 4. More than adequate (80 points) 5. Excellent (100 points) Thus, the average score (µ) for each question is given by the formula beneath.
th Where X i is the score referring to the i attribute and f i is the frequency of the visitors who gave the score. The questions were classified according to a scoring scale which was based on the calculation of percentiles 20, 40, 60 and 80 (resulting in 36, 52, 68 and 84, respectively) in a distribution of possible average scores varying from 20 to 100. As a result, the classification categories are:
Average score Category
Police station in Hungary, PSVW 2006, > 84 Excellent Photographer Bálázs Tóth 69-84 More than adequate 53-68 Adequate 37-52 Inadequate < 36 Totally inadequate
Finally, the average score in each observation area is the simple average of the four questions. The final score is the simple aver- age of the five areas.
16 Background information
6.1 Belgium the 16 Federal States (Bundes- 6.4 Latvia länder) and the Republic. Belgium police are divided in The main policing bodies are The State Police of Latvia com- Federal Police and Local Police. the Federal Police, the State prises the central administration The Federal Police works in Police, and the Federal and 28 territorial units in the co-operation with Local Police Criminal Police Office. The territory of Latvia. The National services to enhance domestic German Police are divided into Police and other services, such security and guarantee demo Federal Police and State Police. as the Special Immigration cracy. The Standing Police Mon- The Federal Police (BPOL) is Police and the Border Guards, itoring Committee (Comité P) is subordinate to the Ministry of are subordinate to the Ministry the oversight organ of external Interior. As of 2006, the total of Interior; Municipal Police are control of all agents having po- number of BPOL staff num- under local government control, lice competencies. The Belgium bered about 40,000 of whom and the National Guard, an Police is composed of 196 Local 30,000 were fully trained police element of the Armed Forces, Police Forces arising from the officers. Each Federal State has also assists in police activities. merger of the former Municipal its own State Police, and each Police and the former Territorial organized differently, since Brigades from the State Police police duties fall within the (gendarmerie). Fifty police ser- jurisdiction of the federal states vices coincide with the territory as laid down in Germany’s Con- of one city or town (single-city- stitution. zone) and 146 coincide with more than one city and/or town (multi-city-zones). As of 2006, 6.3 Hungary there were 28,550 local police- men and 862 members of the In October 1989, following the Police station in Latvia, PSVW 2006, administrative and logistical declaration of the Hungarian Photographer Alexei Roschin cadre working together in the Republic, a new National Police 196 different local police forces. Headquarters was founded. 6.5 The Netherlands The numerical strength is Since 1994, the organization of defined by the police board of the police has been regulated The Dutch police organisation multi-city-zones or by the town by a separate Police Act. in it current formation was council for single-city-zones, In Hungary there is one National created in 1994. Before that corresponding to the minimal Police Force. It is the task of time it was organised in more standards, as provided by law. the Police of the Hungarian Re- than 140 municipal forces in the public to protect public security bigger cities and state police in and internal order. On average the rural areas and for specific 6.2 Germany there is one operational police national tasks. Since then, officer per32 9 inhabitants. 25 regions were formed as well In the Federal Republic of The number of the total as a National Police Force for Germany, the responsibility for population is 10,270,425 and some national tasks. There is maintenance of public security the number of the operational not a “model” structure of a and order is divided between police strength is 31,229. Regional Police Force.
17 Each regional force is respon- chinery providing the interior sible for the execution of the security of the State. police task in its specific area, At present time the MOI of the police region. The size of Russia heads the system of the a regional force is determined bodies of internal affairs (Police by criteria such as the number Forces) and Internal Troops of residents within the region, (Gendarmerie) and has jurisdic- the crime rate, and the building tion over public administration
“We have been looking for the police station for a rather long time. The residents were not able to show us the right directions.”(PSVW
visitor, Russia) density within the municipality. in the sphere of protection A regional force is divided into of the rights and liberties of districts and units. The manage- citizens, law enforcement, and ment of the 25 police forces public security provision. is regionally organised. The Traditionally the Russian manager of the regional police population did not consider force is the mayor of the largest the police as a social service, municipality in the region. but believed that their primary The mayor also functions as function was to investigate an intermediate between the crimes. In Russia, the establish minister of the Interior and ment and development of Kingdom Relations and the social control over law enforce- police force itself. The largest ment activities is complicated municipality of the region also due to the following reasons. holds the administrative centre First, a ten year history of of the regional force, the police attempted cooperating with headquarters. With a total non-governmental organiza- population of more than tions (NGOs) resulted primarily 16 million inhabitants and in NGOs’ attacks against the around 48.000 police officers in police. Secondly, the insufficient the Netherlands (41.484 km²) development of the legal base there is circa one police officer of social control, allows the per 340 citizens. police (especially the police authorities) to avoid both criti- cism and cooperation propos- 6.6 Russia als. Laws “On militia”, “On investigation activities”, and The Ministry of Interior of Rus- ”Criminal Procedures Codes” sia (MOI) was created in 1802 forbid any interference in the by the decree of the Imperator police activities. However, civil Alexander I as an integral part oversight system in Russia does of the country administration exists and works: the Ombuds- system. Since that time over man deals with the adminis- more than 200 years, the MOI tration of complaints about
Central police station, Kemerovo region, Russia, has been one of the key ele- police officers misconduct; Photographer Maxim Burmitskii ments of the Russia State ma- the Ministry of Interior Social
18 Advisory Board also takes part 6.7 United Kingdom in the police oversight, and NGOs’ - both human rights such In the United Kingdom, law as Perm Regional Human rights enforcement is, generally Center and Civil Oversight in speaking, organized at the Saint-Petersburg, and NGO’s level of administrative districts; such as INDEM Foundation’ in England and Wales defined Center for Justice Assistance. as Home Office Police Forces. The later organizations work The United Kingdom counts on the basis of the Civil Control 52 Police Forces (constabular- Concept (an official framework ies): 43 in England and Wales, document) and the good will eight in Scotland, and one in of the local police authorities Northern Ireland. Within the who are willing to cooperate Home Office, a number of po- with NGOs. lice units have been established to support the police and pur-
The Police Station Visitors Week sue a variety of crime reduction City map of London, United Kingdom. 2006 wasn’t the first initiative initiatives. The British police of such kind, but it has been have undergone many changes. the first to be so dimensioned. In part, these were the conse- Visits to local police stations quence of a growing internal and to prisons are organized conflict about the police system on more or less constant basis and what it was supposed to by the Perm Regional Human represent and achieve. The Rights Center in Perm. In 2005, Reform is realized in the Police a social oversight body called and Magistrates Court Act of the Social Advisory Board was July 1994. On the other hand, created in the Moscow Police European integration and the Department. This body is com- - assumed - threat to security posed of NGO activists working and public order related to the on the policing issues. One of open borders policy instigated the Social Advisory Board reorganization and the estab- projects is named “Police lishment of structures which “It seemed to have Station Raids.” These raids are are used as central points of everything you conducted by a group of two reference and are supposed to three volunteers on a weekly to help in the combat against would need in a basis. Along with a police officer international crime. police station but from the Police Staff Inspection, these volunteers inspect and at a very basic monitor police stations and provide both the police and level. It seemed society with reports on the status very small and it of human rights guarantees in police stations throughout would be good to Moscow. The official institu- be a bit bigger I tionalization of these oversight forms and bodies are crucial think and become for the further development of civil oversight under the law more modern.” enforcement activities in Russia. (PSVW visitor, UK)
19 Who were the visitors?
“The location of the stationis not well signed; if you do not live here you don’t know there is a police station.” (PSVW visitor, The Netherlands)
In total, 292 visitors participated in the Police Station Visitors Week in Europe. The citizens came from all walks of life, age groups, occupational backgrounds, and educational qualifications. For many citizens it was their first visit to a police station. Citizens were involved in the police station visits through local partner organizations, NGOs, citizens committees such as social welfare associations, community organizations, universities, and through media-attention.
Educational background Visitors Police Station Visitors Week 006-Europe In most European countries, the visitors 100% completed professional school and / or university,
7% 80% 8% except for Latvia where most visitors’ educational
60% 80% background was high school. 9% 9% 100% % % 9% In Germany, Hungary, and the United Kingdom, 0% % nearly all visitors finished university. 8% 0% % 1% 1% A small percent of the visitors in Belgium, 7% 9% % 7% 0% The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom only Belgium Germany Hongary Latvia The Netherlands Russia United Kingdom finished elementary school.
Elementary High school Professional school University
How often did visitors visited a poile station before?Police Station Visitors Week 006-Europe The majority of visitors to police stations in 100% Belgium, Russia, and the United Kingdom had 1% 1% 8% 9% not been in a police station before. For around 80% 1% % 6% 17% 11% 7% 0% one third of the visitors in Germany and The 60% 9% 7% Netherlands, it was their first time in a police 7% 0% 76% 6% station. In Latvia, the majority had been in police 9% 6% 0% 6% stations more than five times and in Hungary 9% 0% 7% almost all visitors had been there more than ten Belgium Germany Hongary Latvia The Netherlands Russia United Kingdom times. First time Second time >5 >10
20 Division of age-group visitors Police Station Visitors Week 006-Europe The division of age groups differs per country. 100% In Belgium, Germany, and Hungary none of the 1% 7% 7% 1% 1% 80% 6% visitors were under the age of 20 years, whereas 17% 6% 1% in Germany all visitors were in their twenties. 60% 100% 7% % % In Latvia and Russia, one-third of the visitors 0% 7% were under twenty years. In The Netherlands, 67% 0% 6% 1% % more than one-third of the visitors were older 1% 7% 0% % than sixty years and seven percent were even Belgium Germany Hongary Latvia The Netherlands Russia United Kingdom above eighty years old. 0-<20 20-<40 40-<60 60-<80 80-<100
Gender visitors Police Station Visitors Week 006-Europe
The division of gender of participants of the 100% Police Station Visitors is nearly equal. 80% 8% 9% 7% 6% 7% In total, 150 female visitors and 142 male visitors 6% % participated in this project. In Belgium, Hungary, 60% 0% Latvia, The Netherlands, and United Kingdom 6% 7% 6% % % there were more female visitors than male 0% 6% %
visitors. In Germany and Russia, most visitors 0% were male. Belgium Germany Hongary Latvia The Netherlands Russia United Kingdom
Female Male
“In spite of some drawbacks, the impression is positive. We were rather stuck by the re- fusal of the chief to show us the call center, detention center and by the fact that the data about crime rate in the region and achievements of police in crime fighting are for internal use only.” (PSVW visitor, Russia)
Police office in Latvia, PSVW 2006, Photographer Alexei Roschin
21 Which police stations scored the highest?
“Enthusiastic man with the police heart in the right place.” (PSVW visitor, The Netherlands)
TOP STATIONS EUROPE
The three highest scoring police stations in Europe were the following:
1. KANASHCKI POLICE STATION, CHUVASH REPUBLIC, RUSSIA
2. POLICE DEPARTMENT OF RIGA REGION, LATVIA
3. POLICE STATION OF SAULKRASTY, LATVIA
Police officer in Latvia, PSVW 2006, Photographer Alexei Roschin >
Average Overall Score Altus Police Stations Visitors Week 006
72 70 68 66 64
62 70,09 70,72
60 66,93 2
58 55,66 60, 56 54 Hungary Latvia Netherlands Russia
22 Scores of police stations in Hungary Average scores per Participating in the Police Station Visitors Week 006 100 country with five or 80 more police stations
60
3 participating are: 100 40 88,33 73,33 76,3, 80 3 74,67 76,66 70,67 54,33 66,93 70,67 51 20 50 54,3 58,33 38,33 46,66 38,33 0 Overall Cat 1 Cat Cat Cat Cat Average score Highest score Lowest score
Scores of police stations in Latvia Participating in the Police Station Visitors Week 006 100 80
60
40 100 96,66 95 93,33 3 100 66,51 76,66 60 55 73, 74 58,03 45 20 45 81,36 70,72 55,66 30 0 Overall Cat 1 Cat Cat Cat Cat Average score Highest score Lowest score
Scores of police stations in The Netherlands Participating in the Police Station Visitors Week 006 100 80
60
40 85 88,75 88,33 77,81 89,17 78,33 71,73 70,72 20 60 72,48 59,89 62,73 78,12 61,69 46,67 57,50 56,82 66,44 0 Overall Cat 1 Cat Cat Cat Cat Average score Highest score Lowest score
Scores of police stations in Russia Participating in the Police Station Visitors Week 006 100 80
60
40 93,33 100 81,66 100 91,66 2 93,66
20 60, 57 45 62,44 45,29 30 52 36,66 22 38,33 20 33,33 0 Overall Cat 1 Cat Cat Cat Cat Average score Highest score Lowest score
23
Police stations Russia. The Kanashcki Police Department is located in the which received city of Kanash. The city is called the “railway gates” of the the highest Chuvash Republic. The territory of the city is 18, 5 square kilometers. It is located at 76 kilometers from the capital scores in Latvia, of Chuvash Republic. There are about 55 000 inhabitants living in Kanash. In 2004, Kanash was ranked as the most The Netherlands comfortable city in Russia. and Russia* The police department several human rights organiza- Kanashcki GOVD is located tions. Next to the reception close to the bus terminal and area there is a detention area. * Altus only publishes information easy to find. At the entrance to It comprises several rooms, each of countries in which ten or more the department there is a check for two detainees. police stations participated in the point. GOVD is the police PSVW 2006. department which serves the Not so long ago, the detention city of Kanash whereas the area of the Kanashcki police ROVD police department serves department was considered to the whole area of Kanash be one of the worst detention district. The police department areas in the Chuvash Republic. authorities explained that such One of inspections the police check point was organized in authorities decided to close it accordance with the internal down and reconstruct it. MOI guidelines in order to The area was reconstructed and Russia secure the department from a shower cabin for detainees possible terrorist attacks. was installed. In the Republic In Russia the three highest Then the visitors entered the of Chuvshia, MOI’ authorities scoring stations were the yard, surrounded with several decided to install shower cabins following: buildings of the police depart- in the detention areas of each ment. One can enter any police station after they knew • Kanashcki GOVD building. There is the migration that Kanashcki police depart- • Kanashcki ROVD service department in one of ment was ranked as the winner • Kaliniskoe ROVD the buildings, where foreigners in PSVW in Russia. The police can get all of the necessary department offices are clean In the separate categories the information about the pro- and comfortable, as they were highest scores in Russia were cedures to obtain citizenship, reconstructed several years received by: embassies, and consulates’ ago. The office environment location, etc. is friendly. There is a clean Cat 1 Community Orientation At the entrance to the police lavatory for the department’s Kanashcki GOVD station there is a reception visitors. The police department Cat 2 Physical Condition area, where one meets officers buildings will be covered with Kanashcki GOVD on duty with badges with their plastic siding in 2007. Cat 3 Equal Treatment OVD names and positions. The police department made «Arbat» There is an information desk an extremely positive impres- Cat 4 Transparency & Accounta at the reception area where sion on the visitors. bility Kanashcki GOVD citizens can find information They expected to see some Cat 5 Detention Conditions about how to report crime, kind of a prison and other ROVD of Kuibyshevskiy where they can obtain other negative things, but their nega- district public services and assistance tive expectations proved to be such as contact information of unmerited. the controlling institutions and
24 Latvia. The Riga Region of the department and showed Police Department deals the offices. He also told the with the largest region in visitors about the department Latvia Latvia with a population of structure and the region’s 150.000 inhabitants. specific features (several In Latvia the three highest The territory of the region presentations about the Riga scoring stations were the is 3132 square kilometers. region were made). Visitors following: had a chance to ask questions Riga region is located in the and get acquainted with the • Riga district center of the country; it’s the work of the local police stations • Saulkrasty most economically sound and of the region. There was no • Liepai active region of Latvia. The information available in the region is rich with historic herit- station about how to report a In the separate categories the age and natural resources. The crime. The police officers stated highest scores in Latvia were central machinery of the police that there is no need for that received by: department is located in the because every person arriving city of Riga. Six police stations to the department is met by the Cat 1 Community Orientation are located in the city districts. on-duty officers working Riga district Riga region comprises 14 local 24 hours in shifts. On-duty po- Cat 2 Physical Conditions self-governments, four districts, lice officers also provide citizens Saulkrasty, PD of Riga five cities, and 41 villages. Main with all necessary information district highways and trunk-railways about how to obtain other Cat 3 Equal Treatment Riga of the country cross the region, public services and assistance. district there is an international airport The information about the help Cat 4 Transparency & Accoun- and a ship’s port in its territory. line telephone number and tability Ekabpilskiy region The region covers Riga harbor, dates and time of the reception Cat 5 Detention Conditions three large, about 20 small of citizens by the department Ekabpilskiy, Limbazhskiy, rivers, and 132 lakes. Thanks authorities is available. Visitors Liepay, Riga district to its favorable geographical couldn’t obtain any informa- location the region is a per- tion about the services/referrals spective location for tourism available to minority groups, development. crime victims, and migrants in offices are clean, com fortable, The ministry of Interior’s the department. well- lit, and equipped with State Police authorities were Riga Region Police Department new furniture and IT-devices. informed about planning a is one of the largest in the The interaction with the police visit to the Riga region police country. The police department officers during the visit was department in March of 2006. is located in the center of the rather good. The police depart- The date and time of the visit region and the center of the ment authorities consider civil were agreed upon. There were city of Riga. It is a four-stored oversight of the police activities four visitors, including a team brick building, totally recon- necessary and helpful. They leader. The visit lasted for one structed in 2002. Nevertheless, hope it will allow them to make hour and 30 minutes. The visit the original historical style police activities more effective included observations of all remains. Special services for and improve the police-citizens of the parts of the station, persons with physical disabili- relations. The visitors, students including the detention area ties and handicapped are avai- of various institutes and univer- and talks to the department lable at the police department sities, were surprised that the authorities, police officers on now, as are special facilities and police authorities welcomed duty, and other staff. Visitors conditions for visitors, such as the project, answered all of the were met by the deputy head elevators, lavatory, ventilation, visitors’ questions, and allowed of the department, who briefly etc. Working conditions for the them to take pictures during told about the police activities police staff are rather good: the visits.
25 The Netherlands. some areas in The Netherlands The three highest scoring do have a majority of Muslim stations were the following: detainees it can be considered The Netherlands Hengelo Centrum-Zuid, an act of respect towards the Hoogeveen-West, and Muslims culture. Another ‘good In the Netherlands the three Weert. practice’ was the special “open highest scoring stations were cell door” specially adapted for the following: Hengelo Centrum - Zuid is one people who are suffering claus- of two police stations located trophobic feelings. This station • Hengelo Centrum-Zuid in the city of Hengelo. Hengelo also offers a special detention • Hoogeveen – West has over 80.000 inhabitants. area for irregular migrants; • Weert The police station is part of the these multi-occupancy cells Regional Police Force Twente. are more comfortable, bigger, In the separate categories Twente is a province in the east and are equipped with their the highest scores in the of The Netherlands. The area is own sanitary facilities so that Netherlands were received by: divided into 14 municipalities families can stay together. These and 19 Police Departments. examples illustrate the effort to Cat 1 Community Orientation This Regional Force has around treat everybody with equality in Weert 1.600 police officers in total the station’s policy. Cat 2 Physical Conditions which means one police officer Hengelo Centrum-Zuid per 400 inhabitants. The Police Police station Hoogeveen-West Cat 3 Equal Treatment Force Twente is divided into is one of the two police stations Hengelo Centrum-Zuid three police districts. in the city Hoogeveen. Cat 4 Transparency & Hoogeveen counts around Accountability Segbroek According to the yearly natio- 54.000 inhabitants. This police Cat 5 Detention Conditions nal independent survey ‘Police station is part of the Regional Emmen Centrum Monitor Population’ – ordered Police Force Drenthe, where al- by the Dutch Ministry of Internal most 1.200 police officers serve Affairs. Twente is one of the (one police officer per 450 safest areas in The Netherlands. inhabitants). The Police Force The police station Hengelo Drenthe is divided into four Centrum-Zuid scored particularly police districts and is situated high in the categories ‘Physical in the north-eastern part of the Conditions’ and ‘Equal Treat- country. ment’. One visitor commented The region has 14 municipali- about the lack of decoration ties. The population density of or use of colors in the building, the province of Drenthe is one but despite this, the police of the lowest of the country. station scored very high. The Less than 4% of the population building was built in 2004 and is has a foreign background (com- equipped with all facilities. After pared to 10% in the country). the visit of the Altus Secretariat This is reflected also in the to the police station, some good ethnic diversity of the Police practices were further revealed. Force. Staff from the Altus Special attention deserves the Secretariat was explained that “black dot” which is painted on efforts are made to attract a va- the ceiling of all detention cells. riety of ethnicities to the force With this “black dot” practi- in order to reflect society more cing Muslim detainees know in accurately. which direction Mecca is. Since This police station is recent
Police chief in Hoogeveen receives flowers from Altus secretariat because of highest scores, PSVW 2006 26 renovated. In the entrance from German, Moroccan, and National Police Day is organized of the building hangs a large Turkish nationality. The area once a year for the public to colorful painting that was has its own specific problems learn more about the police.On made by several police officers due to the fact that this is a the other hand police officers together; it symbolizes the border area between Belgium and the Weert command itself effort the police force makes and Germany - problems such organize a visit to the public to to work as a team. Next to as drug-tourism, entrance ask the community its opinion the painting stands a bronze of illegal foreigners, asylum about the services delivered by sculpture which symbolizes seekers, and cross border crimi- the police once a year. Besides the position of the police in nality. the ‘School Adoption Plan’, society. The statue is composed The police station, which was police officers stay in close of three figures: the Police, the built in 2004, received the contact with minors who have Government, and the Public highest scores nationwide in the committed petty crimes in order Prosecutor, all of who protect category of ‘Public Orientation’. to keep them in the right track. and control, simulating the Like in other police stations, the relationship with their partners building has reserved an office in the field of security. for the independent national The sculpture symbolizes one organization ‘Slachtofferhulp of the main concerns of this Nederland’ which provides aid Police Force: co-operation with to victims of all sorts of crimes other security partners. and traffic incidents. Also, the Social Investigation Team, part Weert is the Headquarters of of the Dutch Ministry of Interior one of the 4 Police Districts responsible for investigating of the Regional Police Force frauds in social welfare, has its Limburg-Noord. It is situated in own office in the building, in the south of The Netherlands. order to work effectively In this Police Force serve more together. Additionally, the police than 1.100 police officers (one station supervises trainees and
“When necessary for every service is information available but you first have to ask for it on the helpdesk; there is no place where you can take these brochures anonymously without being observed.” (PSVW visitor, The Netherlands) officer per 445 inhabitants). beginning lawyers in order to The region Limburg-Noord broaden their mutual under- has a low population density standing. After the Altus visit to compared to the rest of The the police station, some ‘good Netherlands. It counts 28 practices’ were more explained. municipalities, four cities, and For example, the little teddy almost 500.000 inhabitants. bear which the dutch police uses Over 4% of the population has for incidents where children a non-Dutch background. are involved, was an initiative Almost 25.000 foreigners are taken by this police station 14 registrated; they are mostly years ago. On the one hand the
27 What ‘good practices’ were revealed?
“According to the Initiatives for improved community police interaction, prac- tices for transparency, accountability, and service delivery opinion of the group in police stations are common at the local, state, and it is problematic even national level, but it is the implementation of these practices that make certain police stations particularly that all the people outstanding. The ‘good practices’ that were revealed are coming to the station stated according to the five categories in the Police Station Visitors Kit. These five categories and twenty questions are forced to wait were carefully developed within Altus to be adaptable to different cultures and conditions. These questions are in the same room focused on uncovering positive practices. However, the – lawyers, witnesses, questions do not require a great familiarity with law enfor- cement reform. Instead, the intention is to focus the initial defendants”. observations one makes upon entering a police station or (PSVW visitor, any public building to global policing standards. The Altus kit empowers citizens to assess police stations and gives Hungary) the public a venue to record concerns. This section will explain the thinking behind the questions in each of the five categories. It also reveals the good practices that were identified by the visitors during the Police Station Visitors Week 2006.
Category 1 information, allocating staff to Community Orientation address community questions and requests, and being easily In recent years, community accessible to new visitors. policing has swept many police Some good practices that were departments, resulting in revealed by the visitors in this increased police interaction category are the following: with the community they serve through educational outreach • Every year an independent programs and athletic leagues. survey is carried out by order of However, these efforts tend to the Dutch Ministry of Internal be concentrated on involving Affairs concerning security police officers in the commu- and crime. This Police Monitor nity rather than orienting the Population (‘Politiemonitor police station itself towards Bevolking’) started in 1993 the community. This section of and offers unique information questions is focus on deter- about the security policy which mining the degree to which can be used by central and the station is a resource for decentralized government. the community by providing Comparisons can be made in
28 time and in between regions to determine not whether po- clean, comfortable and well-lit; showing trends and deve- lice have the most up-to-date equipped with new furniture lopments. These surveys deal technology or fancy stations, and IT-devices. (Latvia) with topics such as: How many but rather if police have the people are victims of crime? space and equipment to meet • According to visitors one What type of offences? How their needs, such as adequate of the good practices of the insecure do people feel? Who office space and suspect iden- Bischopgate police station is feels insecure? How secure is tification rooms. The visitors that in addition to the staff the community? What kind identified the following ‘good presence in reception, there is of problems are there in the practices’: a telephone line for reporting
“The standards of police work become higher, but conditions of their work are as poor as before. After the visit I realized that not only the citizens have problems, but also policemen still have to work under such poor conditions and shortage of everything.” (PSVW visitor, Russia)
community? What do people • Availability of the room with think about the police in their plate mirror for the identifi- community? The outcomings of cation of suspects in one of these national surveys are also the police station of Moscow. accessible on the internet. (Russia) (The Netherlands) • The police stations of Lie- • The police station Wijkteam pai, Limbazhskiy region and Breda-Oost offers a nine-eve- Saulkrasty have own gyms ning course ‘Police for Public,’ where police officers can in which police officers explain spend their spare time. Com- the working of the police orga- ments of visitors about these nization, the police jurisdiction, three stations illustrated the the policy regarding youth and following: as the buildings drugs and security and safety are totally reconstructed they measures. (The Netherlands) offer many facilities which are rather extraordinary for the Gym police station Latvia, PSVW 2006, country. Special services for per- Photographer Alexei Roschin Category 2 sons with physical disabilities Physical Conditions and handicapped are available minor crimes e.g. the theft of at the police department now, a mobile phone. This is a much special facilities and conditions quicker way for someone to In order to adequately perform for visitors are available, such report such a crime and get a their duties, police officers as elevators, lavatory, ventilati- crime report number, which is must be equipped with the on, etc. Working conditions for needed to submit an insurance proper facilities and equipment. the police department’s staff claim, than operates in most These questions are designed are rather good: offices are police stations. (UK)
29 “The impression of the visitors team was that the police station suffers from the lack of financing but the staff tries to do its job as well as possible under the poor conditions”. (PSVW visitor, Hungary)
• Decoration of rooms in the and it provides for example fa- • Weert pays attention police station Kanashcki with cilities for disabled persons. This by giving feedback about flowers; it makes the rooms police station also has a special attitudes / behaviour from cozy and makes citizens feel interrogation room designed officers through internal more at ease. (Russia) for the most vulnerable people training programs about (children, victims of sexual internal and external conduct. abuse, etc.) which is completely Category 3 separate from the building of the police station. That special Equal Treatment of the room is about one km far from Category 4 Public without Bias Based the station. (Hungary) Transparency & on Gender, Ethnicity, Na- Accountability tionality, Minority Status, • In every police car is a Age or Sexual Orientation small teddy bear for children Accountability is a hard to available in case children are translate phrase that is often involved in (car) accidents. understood as responsibility to This is perhaps the most com- (The Netherlands) the public. However, account- mon basis for evaluating police ability covers more than just activities. In the past decade, • One of the good practices responsibility: to paraphrase biased policing, or racial profil- which were revealed by the the Oxford English Diction- ing, has been the basis for a visitors in Bischopgate was the ary, to be accountable to be new tide of reform. However, fact that, on a voluntary basis, answerable to another party. these questions are geared police officers and civil support Accountability ensures that if towards an assessment of the staff take part in fund raising the party in question does not station rather than arrest sta- activities to raise money for fulfill or violates the terms of tistics or diversity of the force. charities unconnected with the their task or profession, that In this section, visitors assess police. (United Kingdom) this information will be avail- the services available to minor- able to the appropriate parties ity groups and the adequacy of • Bischopgate also offers free (the public at large, the elector- facilities designed for women legal services which are well ate, colleagues, supervisors, and disabled persons. advertised in the custody suite etc.) Appropriate measures can Some ‘good practices’ according in a variety of languages. be taken to correct the wrong, to the visitors were: Although there are gener- if any, that occurred as a result ally good translation services of the person’s actions in order • The XIXth District in Budapest available, for some languages to ensure that such action does was according to the visitors es- a telephone interpretation ser- not occur again. In this sense, pecially clean and orderly com- vice is available to officers on the concept of accountability pared with the other police sta- the streets. (United Kingdom) combines aspects of respon- tions they visited. The visitors sibility, a system of checks were very surprised about the • In Weert and Hengelo ‘House and balances, and a system of very good and modern state of rules’ available in detention professional safeguards. the building. The building was areas are translated in different Working from this definition, renovated in the past few years languages. (The Netherlands) one can ask, for what are po-
30 lice accountable and to whom • All Regional Police Forces in • Various Dutch Regional are the police accountable? The Netherlands publish their Police Forces have implement- Altus believes that police are annual reports, policy plans, ed the ‘School Adoption Plan’, accountable to the public for performance results, and agree- which means that each primary any actions they take in their ments with the City Council school has its own police capacity as officers of law and Ministry of Interior on their contact. Every school class enforcement, crime preven- websites. (The Netherlands) is being adopted by a police tion, and public safety. The officer. Subjects like fireworks, questions in this section are • The Dutch Police organizes vandalism, drugs, criminality, intended to make sure police every year a ‘National Police and aggression are discussed stations should contain the in- Day‘ and people are invited to with the children. In this shared formation the public needs to visit the police station in their responsibility for safety in the determine whether or not the community to receive more community, other partner police are satisfactorily fulfill- information about the police organizations are involved. ing their duties. The following functioning. (The Netherlands) ‘good practices’ identified by the visitors:
• The Dutch Ministry of Interior encourages police officers who come up with an effective solution which makes a difference in policing by a so called ‘Police Innovation Price’. The money which is offered together with the price is spent in purpose for the realization of the project / solution. (The Netherlands)
• The Riga region police de- partment set up a co-operation network with the private secur- ity firms and companies since 1999. According to the visitors this indeed helps a lot in the sphere of such police activity as crimes prevention. It allows the police to involve private ‘School Adoption Plan’ implemented in Dutch security firms and companies in • In Bischopgate there is clear Regional Police Forces, PSVW 2006 crime prevention activities and reporting to staff on perform- use their resources: technical, ance; flexible human resources material and human. Moreover, soon be available to the public such contacts allow conducting in the reception policies; and common operations, exchan- strong investment in occupa- ging information, and for the tional health and staff facilities. quickening of the investigation This information will area. process by assisting in collect- (United Kingdom) ing evidence for criminal and civil cases. (Latvia)
31 Category 5 Detention Conditions
This set of questions is of in 2004. One of its cell doors was a slightly different orien- specially adapted for people tation than the previous who are suffering claustro- sections, mainly because phobic feelings: the standard detention areas are not iron cell door can be replaced regularly accessed by the by a special ‘open’ cell door public at large. However, with bars. (The Netherlands) the people who are held in the detention facilities at • In Hengelo Centrum-Zuid any given station will most the cells are marked with a likely return to the com- black dot to inform Muslim munity. In order to ensure people about the direction that community-police of Mecca in case they would relations are not harmed like to pray in their cell. and that the community is (The Netherlands) protected by ensuring that detained individuals do not • Hengelo Centrum-Zuid of- come into harm while in fers ‘house rules’ to detainees police custody, these simple in all cells – still only available questions ask about the in Dutch. It would be favorable things most people would if these rules were translated to want to know if a loved other languages. Police station one was detained in police Weert does offer the house custody. rules in different languages. (The Netherlands) • Visitors of the Yurmala police station mentioned as • Hengelo Centrum Zuid, this an example of good practice station offers a special deten- Detention cells in Hengelo Centrum-Zuid are marked with a black dot in direcion of Mecca for Muslim functioning of a library in the tion area for irregular immi- peolple, PSVW 2006 detention area. Detainees are grants; these cells are more able to use it while in isolation. comfortable, bigger and with (Latvia) their own sanitary facilities. • In Dutch police stations it is Families can stay together; the standard practice that police • An example of good practice detention period is for a max- officers take off their weapon is the availability of a shower imum of 10 days. and lock it up before entering in the detention center of the (The Netherlands) the detention areas. police station Kanashcki GOVD This way they avoid safety in Chuvash Republic. problems. Also is it rule that The Ministry of Chuvash has only authorized persons may recently decided to provide all enter the detention areas. the detention centers of the (The Netherlands) Republic with showers for the detainees. (Russia)
• The police station Hengelo Centrum-Zuid was renovated
32 “I think people’s views were changed, as some people did not expect the facilities to be so basic and could not believe that the suspects could not have a sink in their room, etc. However after hearing tales of people committing suicides in cells then people are now more aware of the reasons behind things. It also made people more aware that you can just call in the police station for a chat, for information, help and advice and the staff were very approachable which contributed to this.” (PSVW visitor, United Kingdom)
Riga Region, Latvia, PSVW 2006, Photographer Alexei Roschin
33 Media coverage in Dutch and Russian newspapers about the Police Station Visitors Week 2006
34 2007
35 ALTUS Secretariat Plaats 27a, 2513 AD, The Hague,The Netherlands Phone +31 (0)70 34 53 545 Fax +31 (0)70 75 03 656 E-mail [email protected] Web www.altus.org
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