DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY POLICING IN THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY POLICING IN THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Summary/Abstract: In the last decade of the last century, a large number of countries around the world have abandoned the traditional (reactive and control) way of working of the police, implementing the new model of "community policing". This concept of police work has prompted a series of reforms and led to changes in the relationship between the police and the community (through the competencies of the police, the methods and means of work, the method of training police officers, and the method of recruiting new police members). The adoption of this philosophy of police work has essentially led to radical changes in all elements of the organizational structure and the work process of the police. According to this concept, police services are forced to create a new style of work that reflects the needs of citizens and the community they serve. In the Republic of North Macedonia, the concept of community policing was first introduced by the OSCE in the period after the end of the conflict in 2001. During that period, the introduction of this concept in police work gave good results and enabled the return of the police to the post-war regions. Although this concept of police work has given good results, a special law has not been adopted in North Macedonia that would regulate this matter in detail. However, in 2006, a Law on Police was adopted, which included part of this issue in Article 11 (without explicitly using the term community policing). This law partially standardized this matter, and the police were forced to cooperate with the community. This article of the law serves as the basis for further development of the community policing model. This issue is also addressed in other documents and strategies prepared by the Ministry and the Government of North Macedonia, and in all of these acts the role and responsibility of the police are clearly defined. In general, the police are obliged to be transparent, to advocate for the protection of citizens' rights and to take care of their safety through preventive and proactive activities. With the Law on Police and other acts, the police are authorized to implement various preventive measures, such as patrols, analyses of criminal movements and engagement in resolving local conflicts and problems.

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