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Conception of preventative policy at inter - ministerial level and its actual implementation at the local levels was facilitated through the Republic Crime Prevention Committee for whose work the Ministry of Interior is responsible.
In 1999, the Comprehensive Co-operation Programme for the crime prevention at the local level (hereinafter CCP) 67) was implemented in 68 cities of the Czech Republic. Within the framework of CCP 527 projects were supported by the state purposeful subsidy the total amount of which was CZK 9.65 bil. 68) There were the following projects:
SITUATION prevention - technical equipment minimising crime. In particular it is installation of the camera monitoring systems, which is of course very expensive but also very efficient. This system creates security zones in the areas known by a high number of street crimes.
SOCIAL prevention focused on risky groups of children and young people, victims of crimes, socially handicapped Roma community population and other social-pathological groups (homeless people, released prisoners, drug addicts).
INFORMING citizens on possible defence against crimes, current security risks in a relevant area, security of persons and property, establishment of crisis and advisory facilities, etc.
The process of the Czech police integration into the preventative systems of cities is supported within this programme. It also helps strengthen police's analytical, preventative information and advisory role. The implementation of projects “Furnishing of analytical work places of the District Headquarters of the Czech police by computers” The number of computerised sites increased to 43 in 1999.
Two new projects were implemented within the inter-ministerial approach to the prevention of crime. First of all, it is a Prompt Intervention Centre in Ostrava established on the basis of the Government resolution relating to the document “The proposal to a system approach to the care of child and juvenile delinquents”. It will concentrate on social rehabilitation of children in the early stage of delinquent behaviour. Secondly, it supports selected Educational Care Centres in particular completion of their technical equipment, elaboration of methodological materials, and training of their staff.
On the basis of quality assessment and meaningfulness of the project supporting the Roma community “Methodology for implementation of projects supporting socially deprived Roma communities and formation of positive inter-ethnical relations within CCP” was completed. This document contains recommendation for those who are going to implement such projects in the future.
Establishment of preventative elements and integration of the Czech police with the preventative systems at the local level is implemented through Preventative Information Groups, which are set up within the district and municipal headquarters. (In 1999 there were 34 of them, which has meant the growth by 29 groups since 1998)
The formal kind of co-operation between the Ministry of Interior and non-governmental organisations in crime prevention is the Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Interior, which is comprised of insurance companies, security technology companies, municipal police corps, banks, non-government organisations, etc. (for example the co-ordination meeting how to proceed in robberies of financial institutions or money counterfeiting was held).
The activities of the inter-ministerial co-ordination committee for issues relating to crowd violence and inappropriate behaviour during the sports events, mainly during football matches, aimed at improvement of co-operation between the Czech police and sports clubs in preparation and implementation of security measures which should be observed during football and ice-hockey matches. The Czech Republic took the chair of the force group focused on crowd violence and its prevention. This group was established within the co-operation programme of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary and Poland.
In 1999, there were several training programmes and seminars for the Czech police and municipal police members, city representatives and other experts working in the field of prevention.
Promotion of preventative activities of the Ministry of Interior, influencing citizens' approach to more secure behaviour and informing population on various options of defence against crimes were implemented by the direct participation in mass media (TV and radio broadcastings), in exhibitions, via Internet and with the help of special books and print-outs. The Ministry of Interior publishes special journals - monthly Policeman and quarterly Criminalist. The both mentioned journals are published also electronically on the web sites of the Ministry of Interior.
The international co-operation in the field of crime prevention concentrated in 1999 also on children and juvenile delinquency and prostitution. Mainly, contacts with the Netherlands were used. The Ministry of Interior ensures participation of the Czech Republic in UN and European Council bodies. (UN Committee for Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and Standing Committee of the European Council for Crowd Violence and Inappropriate Behaviour during Sports Events). The Ministry of Interior co-operated with the International Migration Organisation in mass media campaign aimed at trade in women. This campaign will climax in the summer months of 2000.
The Ministry of Interior monitors meetings of international conventions relating to a selected areas of human rights, works with the Czech Government Council for Human Rights, participates in meetings of its expert sections, and finally it also takes part in the programme of the European Council known as “The Police and Human Rights 1997 - 2000”.
The Czech police's work was presented in mass media, including the regular TV programmes (“Offender unknown - investigation continues”, “The Police notebook” and other regular investigation programmes), through the Internet (including comprehensive news on the Czech police work - descriptions of individual departments and service sections of the Czech police, statistical data, regular statistics of car accidents, summary of the most serious crimes within the last 24 hours, investigation of missing and searched persons and articles, and last but not least the list of stolen motor vehicles). Information groups were established at District Police Headquarters (see above) and a number of “Advisory Centres” were set up. Their principal mission is to introduce the police to the public. A range of programmes, brochures and leaflets dealt with security of seniors, protection of motor vehicles, bicycles, security of flats, houses and weekend houses, information on what to do once a car accident occurs, etc. Despite the fact that the traditional restrictive function of the police remains fundamental, it is required to pay more attention to special preventative activities.
The actual police security actions were aimed differently in different regions (weekend house areas, areas with increased numbers of robberies, road safety actions, etc.). They were also focused on public order and investigation of actual cases of crimes ascertained. Actions included in security event schedules are held irregularly on the basis of the current security situation. The emphasis is placed on sending operative and mobile patrols to the sites with frequent robberies. In addition the police ensured public order e.g. during the large sports events, meetings and demonstrations held by extremist groups, etc. (only in Prague there were 200 of such events). A range of such preventative measures of the police departments contributed to the fact that the public peace was not seriously disturbed.
CZK 3.9 million was released for implementation of prevention crime programmes and drug addiction prevention.
The below stated amounts were used in 1999 for preventative protection of the valuable articles of our cultural heritage for which the Ministry of Culture is responsible (Information Protection System - ISO, Electronic Security System - EZS, Electronic Fire System - EPS):