UNMIK/FR/0037/01
FEATURE RELEASE - May 25, 2001

Police and justice

New UNMIK Pillar strengthens law and order capability

By David Kahrmann

UNMIK Police, together with the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) and KFOR do their best to get crime off of the streets and criminals into the legal system. The Department of Judicial Affairs has long been working to establish a fair and efficient legal system to deal to mete out proper justice. Despite their efforts, for many in the international community, post-conflict Kosovo remains a lawless society.
In a major step to change this view, UNMIK is now placing the Administration's police and justice structures into a single pillar. Ranking alongside Civil Administration under the UN (Pillar II), Democratisation and Institution Building led by the OSCE (Pillar III) and Economic Reconstruction managed by the European Union (Pillar IV), the new Police and Justice pillar (Pillar I) will stand as a single entity under the UNMIK umbrella.
Headed, ad interim, by Principal Deputy SRSG Gary Matthews, the new Pillar I was signed into being on 18 May by SRSG Hans Haekkerup. Says, Matthews:" Placing the two elements of police and justice into one distinct pillar will give a more focused, less expanded environment for the two elements to accomplish their goals."
UNMIK expects that bringing the police, security and justice structures under common management will facilitate internal coordination both within the Administration and with other major players concerned with law and order -KFOR, international organizations and concerned governments. Having a distinct pillar provides greater focus, centrality and co-ordination for our efforts. But it will also build on what has already been accomplished by the police, security and justice functions. Says Matthews: "Coordination will be simpler and more effective and will also avoid duplication of effort and ensure a more judicious use of resources."
At the same time, given the Pillar's full human rights-based agenda, "it is good that there are two separate strands in the pillar so that the police are not trying to influence the judicial decisions or the prosecutorial decisions and the judges and prosecutors are not trying to influence police operational policy," says Police Commissioner Christopher Albiston.

Objectives

In line with the Constitutional Framework, the Police and Justice pillar will maintain effective international control and oversight over police and justice over the medium term, so that effective transition to future management by Kosovars can be strategically implemented. In the short term, it will increase the impact of law and order efforts through enhanced coordination of information and work.
Absolute priority will be strengthening the capabilities and the role of the UNMIK-administered law enforcement and criminal justice systems. Resource priorities, says PDSRSG Gary Mathwes, will include a phased increase in the number of KPS officers and enhancing their capabilities, increasing the number of judges and prosecutors, and expanding the detention and penal facilities to hold those convicted of crimes.
The Pillar will have its ability to deal with crime, terrorism and violence, enhanced both by greater resources and legislative powers. On 4 June, legislation has come into force to deal with illegal weapons possession, with especially heavy fines for weapons trafficking. Regulations to deal with illegal border/boundary crossings and with those engaging in terrorist-related activities and other measures to help combat organized crime have also been signed.
Fundamental for the way Pillar I operates will be full and committed involvement of KFOR in law enforcement initiatives. 
The promulgation of the Constitutional Framework and the setting of elections for November, notes PDSRSG Matthews, were also significant steps for democratic development and the rule of law in Kosovo.

Future requirements

Pillar I planners recognize that developing the Kosovo Police Service and delivering an effective, efficient and multi-ethnic approach to enforcement of law and order are fundamental to resolving criminality. A KPS complement in excess of 6,000 envisaged by end 2002 will depend on significant donor contributions.
Future requirements in the justice system include independence and impartiality in the Kosovo-based judiciary, its insulation from political elements, a fully operational inspection unit, bar examinations, reforms of criminal, civil and commercial law, and additional international judges and prosecutors. In penal management, there is a need to continue rebuilding Dubrava Prison, a psychiatric programme for the mentally - ill prison population and more Kosovo Correctional Services guards.
Meanwhile, recognizing the need for more legislative tools for successful prosecution of serious and organized crime, a fast track procedure is being considered to deal with terrorism and organized crime, ensure witness and victim protection in court proceedings.

Note for editors
The full document may be consulted online in English at http://www.unmik.org/. Albanian and Serbian versions can be provided.

For a selection of photographs, please contact Mr Ky Chung at 038 504-604 ext. 5467

Contact: Peter Ellwood
(038) 504 604 Ext. 5471
E-mail: ellwood@un.org