Being a police officer is not just a job, but a life call that brings challenges, opportunities for professional growth and support for the state and citizens, providing a new family that is always with you. These, and many other things important for police work, have been introduced to high school graduates and their parents through the "I choose the police" campaign, implemented in the past month by the Ministry of Interior - the Police Directorate and the Police Academy, with the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro.
Videos seen by almost 300,000 people via social networks, meetings and conversations with more than 800 high school students across Montenegro, a day spent with the police officers in the field, informative flyers, numerous guest appearances on national and local media, testimonials... were just some of the parts of the campaign.
Through the campaign, in anticipation of the upcoming Police Academy's call for applications in June, the public could have learnt about police work in relation with the protection of citizens, the obligations and challenges that this job entails, and ways to become a police officer and what kind of career development awaits those who become part of the police.
With special attention, the campaign encouraged girls to join the police, making the police inclusive and capable to respond in a best ways to the needs of diverse communities and groups the police serve. Montenegrin police women have a special role to build a safer future for everyone, they are an inspiration and a role model for others, while breaking down stereotypes and building a path towards a society of equal opportunities.
In addition, during May, representatives of the Police Directorate and the Police Academy visited high schools throughout Montenegro and discussed with the students of the final grades about the characteristics of police work, like the importance of teamwork, integrity, and the concrete tasks of the police in ensuring safety including on the roads and fighting criminality. This week, a group of interested high school students from all Montenegrin municipalities spent a day with the police in the field, in order to become more familiar with the police work and working conditions. It is important to point out that there were more girls interested in the day with the police than boys, which proves the campaign's success in promoting gender equality.
Bearing in mind the success of the campaign and the interest young people showed, the OSCE Mission believes that this initiative will contribute to a greater number of qualified young men and women deciding to apply for the Police Academy. All information about enrolment - conditions, required documentation and application method - will be available on the website www.policijskaakademija.me during the month of June.
This year's campaign was a continuation of the previous one supported by the OSCE Mission - "We are the power of the team - For more women in policing", which contributed to a significant increase in the number of female candidates admitted to the Police Academy.
The OSCE Mission will continue to support the Montenegrin police in strengthening its efficiency and developing a professional and accountable police fully devoted to the protection of citizens andthat enjoys the trust of society.
