Safe holiday resorts: Nienburger policewoman supports Croatian police

Von Kl Redaktion

Nienburg/Zadar (Croatia) - A unique international police project offered young civil servants the opportunity to further develop their skills in a tourist hotspot. The “Safe Tourist Destination” project brings police officers from different countries to support the local police in Croatia during the strongly frequented summer months.

In July 2024, police commissioner Helen Friedrich from the Nienburg/Schaumburg police inspection was part of this initiative. She spent a month in Zadar, one of the leading tourist cities of Croatia, which attracts thousands of visitors every year. Together with seven other police officers from countries such as China, Poland, Hungary and Austria, she worked to increase security in this lively region.

The challenges on site

The local police in Zadar is faced with a variety of challenges. Organizations that deal with tourism fight against thefts and clashes, especially on the busy nights before clubs and in the often crowded inner city areas. The crime focuses are the old town, the airport, shopping centers, the popular club mile and the surrounding campsites. In view of this Situation, the presence of international police forces is of great value.

The main task of the supporting civil servants is prevention. Due to their visibility in the country -specific uniforms, they were able to build trust in the tourists and establish contact with them. "We distributed flyers and explained to the information to ensure that vacationers feel safe," reports Friedrich.

The emergency services patrolled in small groups, always accompanied by a Croatian police officer, and worked from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the rest of the time, they were on call, but also had the opportunity to relax and explore Croatia. This mixture of work and relaxation allowed them to discover some of the country's beauties.

A highlight was the official greeting of the foreign support forces on July 18. At the port of Sibenik. This event was not just a solemn matter; It was also accompanied by many members of the Croatian government and the press and broadcast on television. "It was impressive to be part of such a big event, and I felt as if I were part of the international police community," said Friedrich.

The Young Police Commissioner emphasizes that her experiences were not only instructive for her, but also had significant positive influence on the perception of the police by the tourists. "The exchange with colleagues from other countries, especially with the Chinese police officers, was extremely enriching," she says.

The exchange of experiences

A central theme of the discussions between Helen and her international colleagues was the equipment of the police. While the Croatian police are well positioned in many areas, there are sometimes serious differences in relation to the equipment compared to Germany. "Despite a major problem of weapons in Croatia, the officers have no protective vests here," explains Friedrich. In this context it becomes clear that international support is essential.

The police commissioner received a lot of positive feedback from the tourists during her stay. Their presence and implementation of preventive measures contributed to a noticeable increase in the feeling of security among holidaymakers. "It was a great experience and a great opportunity to experience the works of the Croatian police up close," she concludes, looking back on the joint efforts that were advantageous for both the local police and the tourists.