The first Slovenian police bees flew out to gather nectar and pollen in the Maribor City Park after the rooftop of the city's police headquarters provided a new home to four bee colonies.

A small ceremony, featuring a police brass band, was held on 11 April to inaugurate the beehive on top of the police building adjacent to the City Park.

Painted by a retired Maribor Police Department employee, the beehive panels depict police work in a humorous way, as traditional beehive panels do.

The Maribor Police Department noted that bees are no longer just a common sight in meadows, but are welcome in cities.

"They make their home on the roofs, terraces, balconies and gardens of public and private buildings, and abroad on the roofs of police organisations, so we decided to invite four bee colonies to our rooftop," they said.

The beehive honours the long beekeeping tradition in the region and draws on the expertise of beekeepers among active and retired force members.

Also involved in the project was the Alojz Greif Hoče Beekeeping Association, whose members helped make the beehive and contributed material and their expertise.

"This honey story is much more than just an act of social responsibility for Maribor police officers," said Maribor Police Department director Donald Rus, a beekeeper himself.

"Bees teach us about cooperation and mutual help, values that have brought together the police department's employees, our retired colleagues, family members and members of professional organisations," he added.