Sutaj Estok: New Bratislava Foreigners Police Office to Ease Processing Pressure

Bratislava, 19 May (TASR) - The opening of a new foreigners police office in Bratislava is an important step in addressing an agenda that has been underfunded and overstretched in terms of personnel for years, declared Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) during a briefing in front of the newly opened centre on Tuesday. According to the minister, the new premises will provide a faster and simplified processing system in more comfortable conditions for both clients and staff. At the same time, the new office is a response to the growing pressure faced by the foreigners police. "Over the past ten years, the number of applicants across Slovakia has increased by 300 percent. While there were fewer than 85,000 applicants at the end of 2014, there were around 360,000 at the end of last year," said the minister, adding that the continuing conflict in Ukraine has partly contributed to this trend. Sutaj Estok emphasised that improving processes isn't only about changing premises. "It also involves the digitisation of processes and improvements to the reservation system," he explained. Among further measures, he mentioned an increase in staffing capacities within the foreigners police. "Last year, we bolstered the foreigners police agenda with 100 civilian posts, including 50 employees here in Bratislava," he said. He also announced another measure that involves the setting up of a specialised office in the capital where foreigners will be able to obtain a personal security code. The specialised client centre will be located in one of the shopping centres near Zlate Piesky. Police Corps President Jana Maskarova noted that the Bratislava foreigners police office is the busiest in Slovakia and described the move to new premises as essential, therefore. "The previous foreigners police department was located in premises that were inadequate both in terms of capacity and technology, where frequent breakdowns interrupted agenda processing and slowed procedures," she explained. [The new office is located at 62, Racianska Street and is best reached by tram no. 3. The nearest tram stop is called Mlada Garda. - ed. note] mf/df