Chief of Police: Crime rate in Montenegro among lowest in Europe

Podgorica, Montenegro (16 June 2011) – At his annual press conference on 15 June, Chief of Police Veselin Veljović presented the police performance report for 2010, especially underlining a notable decline in crime rate, placing Montenegro among the countries with the lowest crime rate in Europe.

Mr Veljović noted that, compared with the previous year, the crime rate fell by 13, 7% to 11.3%, which is among the lowest in Europe. He added that in the past five-year period the crime rate dropped by much as 27%.

The Chief of Police made a point of saying that the police have initiated and/or completed several extensive investigations in cooperation with partners from the region and beyond, including Interpol, which resulted in the arrests of over 50 persons for involvement in organised criminal enterprises, including illicit drugs smuggling and distribution, motor vehicle theft, weapons and human trafficking, money laundering and other severe crimes.