​68 foreign police to help Croatian colleagues during tourist season

Interior Minister Davor Božinović on Monday formally opened the police office in Zadar for the team authorised to implement safety measures during the tourist season, and this summer operations centre has been set up in this Adriatic city for the fourth season in a row.

"Once again this year we would like to send a message that, in cooperation with other ministries, primarily the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Tourism, the Interior Ministry is doing everything it can for this tourism season, which has already started in some way, to be as safe as possible for our citizens and our guests," said Božinović.

"Balancing anti-epidemic measures has helped us to reach our aim - for the incidence rate of new cases to be as low as possible ahead of the season. We are investing huge efforts and the first indicators are good and currently there are 157,000 tourists in Croatia," added Božinović.

He recalled that last year the numbers began to escalate again in August and that caution is necessary.

68 foreign police officers on the coast this summer

Deputy chief of police Željko Prša said that this year the security situation is expected to be good and announced  the arrival of 68 foreign police officers to assist during the tourism season.

"It is a fact that there is an increased risk of traffic accidents and we will concentrate on that in particular during the tourism season. The pandemic caused by the coronavirus is currently stagnating. With good cooperation and responsible behaviour, adhering to recommendations and the situation with inoculation, I hope that the season will go well and that we will have a lot tourists coming to Croatia," said Prša.

The foreign police officers are coming from 15 different police organisations and 68 is twice as many as last year.

The summer operations centre will remain open until 15 September and will be open 24/7.

Security and epidemiological situation to be monitored 

The general security situation will be monitored, particularly with reference to crime and public order and peace. Traffic will also be monitored at border crossings and on the sea and the situations involving illegal migration and wildfires will be also the subject of police monitoring. 

Similarly to last year, the police will cooperate with COVID teams and monitor the epidemiological situation.

In addition to regular police business, the officers will monitor and coordinate the respect of anti-epidemic rules as well as cooperation between the interior ministries of other countries.

This year's police project is entitled - "A Safe Tourist Destination," which is the result of a joint decision adopted with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Croatian Tourist Board.

(Hina/FaH)

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