Vallo Calls for Immediate Government Action to Improve Safety in Bratislava

Bratislava, 8 October (TASR) – The government must adopt measures to improve the security situation in Bratislava, city mayor Matus Vallo stated at aa press conference on Wednesday, in the presence of mayors of the boroughs Ruzinov and Vrakuna Martin Chren and Martin Kuruc and chief of the Bratislava Municipal Police Miroslav Antal. Together they called for amendments to the Criminal Code, an increase in the number of state police officers in the capital, the restoration of sobering-up stations, and expanded powers for municipal police officers. „The government must take action first and do it quickly. It must realise that it bears responsibility for the rapid deterioration of safety and security on our streets — even in previously quiet areas like the '500 flats' housing estate," said Vallo. „Our main demand is the amendment of the Criminal Code." Vallo and the borough mayors are calling for a reduction in the threshold at which theft becomes a criminal offence again, and for repeat thefts to be treated once more as criminal acts. According to the mayor, both the city and municipal police are doing their utmost within their powers. „Since 2018, the municipal police budget has doubled. We now have the highest number of municipal officers in history, our own rapid response unit, and a dedicated training centre," he added. However, he stressed that improvement depends on the state increasing the number of national police officers. Municipal police cannot deal with theft or drug-related crimes, which he said are becoming a growing issue in Bratislava. He also called for expanded powers for municipal police, so they can, for example, respond to cases of aggressive or harassing behaviour. „We have our own intervention unit – big guys who can handle these situations – but we don't want to operate in a grey zone," he noted. He also requested access to police databases. „Municipal officers often don’t realise they are dealing with someone who has exhibited problematic behaviour several times that week or even that day. The person might be banned from the city, and our officers wouldn't even know," he explained. The mayors warned that crime is emerging in areas where it was not previously present, often shifting from one location to another. According to Chren, theft is increasing near large shopping centres and is frequently linked to drug crime. Both mayors proposed regulating pawn shops and restricting alcohol sales in problem areas. „A legal change that would hold pawn shop operators criminally responsible for buying stolen goods would help greatly – this is a major issue," Chren said, noting that Ruzinov currently lacks around 70 police officers. Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice–SD) said after Wednesday's cabinet session that Vallo should focus less on linking increased crime to changes in the Criminal Code and more on enhancing safety and security in the city through increased staffing of the municipal police and a shift in focus away from promoting his office. Sutaj Estok stressed that security is also a responsibility of local governments and municipal police, not solely the national Police Corps. He announced plans to expand the powers of municipal police through legislative changes. mf