Decisions about the disposition of security troops and a crew in Slovenia (1850-2010)

Abstract

The number of security force teams on the territory of Slovenia right from its establishment until today has been decided by the highest leadership in the capital of the state, i.e., in Vienna, in Belgrade and in recent decades in Ljubljana. In addressing this issue, it is necessary to consider certain circumstances, in particular the budgetary capacities of the state. The total number of members of security forces has in general been determined by the State budget or decided within the expenditure item for these forces. When the total number was decided on this level, then the number and disposition of members of the security forces depended on lower administrative authorities whose competencies included security.

The disposition of security forces on the territory of the state was also co-decided by the administrative authorities, in general in agreement with the competent leadership of the security forces. However, initiatives regarding the disposition of individual units were also throughout given by municipalities and even individuals. This practice is still in use today, when municipalities or people in the interior of Slovenia try to re-establish a police unit (a police station or department) in places where it has been abolished.

The number of field security force units in the last 160 years has been subject to constant change, as well as the number of teams. In the last 60 years, the number of these units has decreased, while the number of people serving in these units has grown. Individual police stations along the Slovenian-Croatian state border are today staffed by more than one hundred police officers, which poses a problem of leadership of these collectives. The establishment of the Schengen border, namely, required the strengthening of units serving on this border, while at the same time, the number of police officers in security forces in the interior of Slovenia has been diminishing.