Efforts to improve policing continue

TIRANA, Oct. 1 – Law enforcement authorities in the country have come under pressure for reform, as the new government attempts to make major changes to improve the law and order.
Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri is leading a series of changes that started with a total reshuffleof the traffic police in Tirana and has continued with other steps, making it clear to every senior police official that they are being tested for their abilities. He is expecting positive and fast results in cracking down on crime and fighting corruption among the police forces.
Prime Minister Edi Rama said in his latest Twitter Q&A session that he was satisfied with what police had done in the last two weeks.
“I am convinced we shall turn state police on duty,” he said.
International assistance on policing is also being intensified with the new government. Illegal weapons possessionis a serious concern not only in Albania (where hundreds of thousands of weapons were looted from the army depots in 1997 because authorities collapsed following the fall of pyramid investment schemes), but also in the region.
That was the reason that the European Union, with efforts spearheaded by Danish authorities, helda meeting in Tirana to discuss the fight against weapons trafficking. Danish, Norwegian and Swedish experts gave lectures on the topic.
Last year, police had stopped 20 cases of illegal weapon traffic arresting 13 persons. They held nine operations, also some with other countries in coordination.
An EU official at the meeting, CliveRumbold, said that weapons’ trafficking was “an extremely important issue” for the bloc.
Leading police work to a new stage remains a main topic of work for the new government.