Violations of public peace and order in Slovenia 1997-2006

Abstract

In the period 1997-2006, police officers handled 388,241 petty offences against public peace and order, which is the highest number in the last four decades. These acts constitute more than 65% of all violations in the category of public order offences. The number of petty offences has on the one hand been a result of modifications in the legal regulation of this area and, on the other hand, a result of some important organisational changes within the police. At the beginning of January 2005, the police became a new agency for petty offences and in this capacity decided about the one third of all cases, while they filed a complaint at the district court for the other two thirds. The police were vested with new powers in connection with domestic violence or violence between family members; they were empowered to impose a restraining order, prohibiting a perpetrator from approaching certain places or certain persons.

The majority of violations against public peace and order can be classified within the group of quarrelling, shouting and disturbing night peace (68.14%), followed by improper conduct towards police officers (11.70%), beating and insulting behaviour (7.26%) and offensive behaviour under the influence of alcohol (6.57%). in terms of the place of commission, most incidents took place on roads, in streets and squares (40.00%), then residential premises (28.14%) and inns (17.11%). The majority of cases of violation of public peace and order were recorded within the region of the Police Administration of Ljubljana (34.61%) and the least within the region of the Police Administration of Postojna (1.57%)

A new agency, responsible also for the maintenance of public peace and order has been recently instituted, municipal wardens. As public officials, these wardens also enjoy proper legal protection and this force has become an agency, empowered for petty offences. The police will thus no longer be the only agency to deal with these acts.