LEONARDO DA VINCI PILOT PROJECT NO. LEONARDO DA VINCI PILOT PROJECT NO. 2006-I/06/B/F/PP-1541642006-I/06/B/F/PP-154164“POLIFORME – Cognizance profile construction “POLIFORME – Cognizance profile construction
for neighbourhood police officers”for neighbourhood police officers”
AnkaraAnkara
(Turkey)(Turkey)26 September26 September, ,
20020088
Crime prevention, Partnership working, role of Police Crime prevention, Partnership working, role of Police
in the field of Urban Safety: Lithuanian experiencein the field of Urban Safety: Lithuanian experience
Associate professor dr. Aurelijus Associate professor dr. Aurelijus GutauskasGutauskas
Mykolas Romeris UniversityMykolas Romeris UniversityLaw FacultyLaw Faculty
Criminal Law DepartmentCriminal Law Department
Head of Criminal Justice DepartmentHead of Criminal Justice DepartmentLaw Institute of LithuaniaLaw Institute of Lithuania
Territory Territory
65 300 sq.km65 300 sq.km
Population Population
3 366 2003 366 200
Capital Capital
VilniusVilnius Government Government Parliamentary republicParliamentary republic Religion Religion Roman CatholicRoman Catholic Ethnic compositionEthnic composition
Lithuanians 81,3Lithuanians 81,3 % %
Russians 8,2 % Russians 8,2 %
Polish 6,9 %Polish 6,9 %
Others 3,6 % Others 3,6 %
CRIME TRENDS IN LITHUANIACRIME TRENDS IN LITHUANIA Registered crime changes:Registered crime changes: 37 056 crimes – 199037 056 crimes – 1990 72 646 crimes – 200272 646 crimes – 2002 89 815 crimes – 200589 815 crimes – 2005 82 155 crimes – 200682 155 crimes – 2006 73 741 crimes – 200773 741 crimes – 2007
Detected crimes: more then 40%;Detected crimes: more then 40%;
Registered crimes:Registered crimes: Urban areas – 72,8%Urban areas – 72,8% Rural areas – 27,2%;Rural areas – 27,2%;
Registered crimes by object of attempt:Registered crimes by object of attempt: Against property – 76,6%Against property – 76,6% Public security and order – 8,5%Public security and order – 8,5% Life, health, freedom – 3,9%.Life, health, freedom – 3,9%.
HistoryHistory
Lithuania has Lithuania has been under been under Russian rule for Russian rule for two hundreds two hundreds years since 1795 years since 1795 with a short period with a short period of independence of independence from 1918 to 1940from 1918 to 1940
We had a huge Russian influence in many We had a huge Russian influence in many social spheres, crime not to be an exception. social spheres, crime not to be an exception. While on the other hand we did not While on the other hand we did not experience much Western influence due to experience much Western influence due to the “iron curtain” being held over the the “iron curtain” being held over the Eastern Europe.Eastern Europe.
Crime prevention in Crime prevention in Lithuania is Lithuania is understood as a understood as a complex of measures complex of measures to stop crime by to stop crime by eliminating eliminating conditions for their conditions for their commitment.commitment.
Working definition -1Working definition -1
Working definition -2Working definition -2
The Law on Police The Law on Police Activities provides for Activities provides for understanding of understanding of partnership working as a partnership working as a collaboration of police collaboration of police with governmental and with governmental and municipal institutions in municipal institutions in implementing crime implementing crime prevention programs and prevention programs and efforts of police to efforts of police to involve NGOs and local involve NGOs and local residents into crime residents into crime prevention activities.prevention activities.
The article 2.1 of Law on Police Activity (it was enacted The article 2.1 of Law on Police Activity (it was enacted on 17th October 2000/ No.VIII-2048 and was replaced on 17th October 2000/ No.VIII-2048 and was replaced the Act of Police) describes, that “Police” is the totality the Act of Police) describes, that “Police” is the totality of police bodies and officers ensuring personal, public of police bodies and officers ensuring personal, public safety and public order.safety and public order.
Existing legal framework - 1Existing legal framework - 1
There are no laws There are no laws or regulations or regulations adopted in adopted in Lithuania Lithuania concerning crime concerning crime prevention prevention activities.activities.
Existing legal framework - 2Existing legal framework - 2
The Law on Police The Law on Police Activities sets that Activities sets that police is obliged to police is obliged to develop wider develop wider collaboration with collaboration with other social actors.other social actors.
Existing legal framework - 3Existing legal framework - 3
Lithuanian police system is Lithuanian police system is fixed in the Law on Police fixed in the Law on Police Activity (2000/No. VIII – Activity (2000/No. VIII – 2048). Article 11 points, that 2048). Article 11 points, that the police system shall the police system shall consist of:consist of:
1. The Police Department at 1. The Police Department at the Ministry of the Interior of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter referred to as (hereinafter referred to as the Police Department).the Police Department).
2. Territorial police bodies.2. Territorial police bodies. 3. Police professional 3. Police professional
training institutions.training institutions. 4. Specialized police bodies.4. Specialized police bodies.
Actors- 1Actors- 1
Although the Law on Although the Law on Police Activities sets Police Activities sets crime prevention to be crime prevention to be one of the major tasks of one of the major tasks of the police, however in the police, however in tasks of the police, tasks of the police, however in practice it is however in practice it is being estimated that local being estimated that local police officers can spend police officers can spend not more than 15 percent not more than 15 percent of their workload on of their workload on prevention issues.prevention issues.
Actors- 2Actors- 2
Collaboration between Collaboration between police and municipalities is police and municipalities is rapidly increasing, rapidly increasing, however taking mostly the however taking mostly the form of funding afforded form of funding afforded by municipalities to by municipalities to different crime prevention different crime prevention projects. projects.
Actors- 3Actors- 3
The main policing institution The main policing institution is the Lithuanian Police:is the Lithuanian Police:
- - The Police Department The Police Department - The Police Commissioner - The Police Commissioner
General;General;
The management system of The management system of Police Department shows, that Police Department shows, that there are there are two types of police:two types of police:
- Criminal Police- Criminal Police - Public Police - Public Police
Brief Background - 1Brief Background - 1
The need to strengthen crime The need to strengthen crime prevention efforts is being prevention efforts is being constantly declared in official constantly declared in official documents adopted by the documents adopted by the Parliament and the Parliament and the Government of the Republic Government of the Republic of Lithuania it lacks attention of Lithuania it lacks attention in practice.in practice.
Brief Background - 2Brief Background - 2
Police forces in Lithuania Police forces in Lithuania show much eagerness in show much eagerness in collaboration with other collaboration with other social actors. social actors.
Brief Background - 3Brief Background - 3
Article 5 of Law on Police Activity Article 5 of Law on Police Activity (2000/VIII-2048) set up the following (2000/VIII-2048) set up the following police tasks:police tasks:
Protection of human rights and Protection of human rights and freedoms. freedoms.
Ensuring of public order and public Ensuring of public order and public safety. safety.
Rendering of emergency assistance Rendering of emergency assistance to persons when it is necessary to persons when it is necessary because of their physical or mental because of their physical or mental helplessness, as well as to persons helplessness, as well as to persons who have suffered from criminal who have suffered from criminal acts, other violations of law, natural acts, other violations of law, natural calamities or similar acts.calamities or similar acts.
Prevention of criminal acts and Prevention of criminal acts and other violations of law.other violations of law.
Detection and investigation of Detection and investigation of criminal acts and other violations of criminal acts and other violations of law. law.
Control of traffic safety. Control of traffic safety.
Future opportunities - 1Future opportunities - 1
Regional police agencies Regional police agencies throughout Lithuania lay throughout Lithuania lay much effort to increase of much effort to increase of the safer neighbourhoods the safer neighbourhoods movement.movement.
Future opportunities - 2Future opportunities - 2
- Police actively search for ways Police actively search for ways to establish contacts with local to establish contacts with local residents. Once of important residents. Once of important forms of contact establishment forms of contact establishment is meetings with local is meetings with local communities.communities.
Future opportunities - 3Future opportunities - 3
In 2006 the Parliament of the In 2006 the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania has Republic of Lithuania has adopted the Program for adopted the Program for Development of the Lithuanian Development of the Lithuanian Police system.Police system.
Evaluation - 1Evaluation - 1
The experienceThe experience shows shows that number of thefts that number of thefts and burglaries is and burglaries is rapidly decreasing in rapidly decreasing in the neighborhoods the neighborhoods where safer where safer neighborhoods groups neighborhoods groups have been have been established. established.
Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention!!
E-mailsE-mails [email protected]@mruni.lt
[email protected]@teise.org
