Victims and Police in Belgrade

Abstract

In this paper the author presents findings of the first (pilot) victimization survey carried out during 1996 in Belgrade (Serbia) as the part of International Crime (Victim) Survey. For the purposes of this survey standard ICS questionnaires and methodology, with some necessary corrections, were used. The random sample consisted of 1094 respondents living in central Belgrade's communes. The author focuses on data measuring respondents' willingness to report crimes, their reasons for not reporting crimes to the police and their attitudes toward the police, i.e. their level of confidence in and their reasons for dissatisfaction with the police. Survey findings are analyzed in connection with different crimes, bearing in mind macro factors, such as war and economic crises, which have contributed to the decrease in both the crime reporting rate and the level of confidence in the police. The author concludes that the survey draws attention to the sensitive relationship between citizens and police in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), suggesting an urgent need for radical reforms in the organization, control, training and education of the police concerning human rights in general and victims' rights in particular.