Slovenian police trade unions have called on the authorities to take measures to increase officer safety after the latest incident in the south of the country that saw a group of Roma assault police officers performing a routine traffic stop.

The group attacked the police to assist a Roma minor resisting arrest after he refused to pull over his vehicle in the Kočevje area on 11 August and then fled on foot. Punched, pushed and hurled threats at, the officers sustained minor injuries. One of the group also threw a stone at their car.

The incident occurred as police presence in the area had been reinforced following an incident in which a 21-year-old suspect shot at two vehicles on 8 August, raising concerns among the locals about their safety.

In late July stones were thrown at a municipal traffic warden on duty in a Roma village near Novo Mesto and in June a Roma pupil attacked another pupil at a school in the Brežice area, causing a public outcry and calls for action.

Hot political issue

The incidents have sparked a nationwide debate on security and systemic Roma-related issues and are expected to turn into a major issue again after parliament returns from summer recess.

The two opposition parties and the ruling coalition Social Democrats (SD) have urged several measures in the wake of the incidents, with New Slovenia (NSi) proposing a bill to tackle peer violence at schools and re-tabling a package of bills sponsored by 11 mayors from the southeast to encourage parents who receive welfare to send their children to school.

With the latest incident seen as having crossed the line, two police trade unions have come forward, calling on the Interior Ministry and police commissioner to help bring about legislative changes that would make law enforcement more effective as well as increase officer safety and hence the safety of all citizens.

They noted the increased number of offences and crimes committed by members of minorities in certain areas of the country, as well as pointed to a rise in threats and assaults against officers.

Slovenia is currently one of the safest countries in the world, but that is mainly thanks to police and support services and not the government, they said.

Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar condemned the incident, telling commercial broadcaster POP TV on 15 August that they were trying to get police officers the best possible protective equipment.

Comprehensive solutions urged

The police unions believe that increased police presence alone will not be enough and other relevant authorities will have to get involved in the efforts to tackle Roma-related issues, such as inspectors and social services.

One of their proposals is to make welfare payments conditional on regular school attendance for children and proof of actively searching for a job in the case of jobless adults, proposals already included in the package sponsored by mayors that has been voted down in parliament.

Poor school attendance in Roma communities, especially those living in the south and south-east of the country, is a long-standing issue that is sometimes used as a kind of bargaining chip.

Some members of the Roma community in Ribnica, a town near Kočevje, said that the local authorities had left them without drinking water supply due to infringements of relevant agreements, the 24ur news portal reported earlier this week.

They plan to stage a protest and will not let their children go to school until the situation is remedied. However, Roma people in Ribnica have distanced themselves from violent incidents involving Kočevje Roma.

Amid warnings that violent individuals do not reflect the entire Roma community in the country, local Roma people said that the state was to blame for any incidents, pointing to many issues, including those related to water supply, the portal moreover wrote.

Meanwhile, acting Kočevje Mayor Gregor Košir was quoted by the portal as saying that comprehensive measures were needed now or else people might take the law into their hands.