Interior Minister meets Roma specialists

Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák and Police Corps President Tibor Gašpar held talks with Roma specialists in Banská Bystrica, central Slovakia, on Thursday. They discussed measures prepared by the Interior Ministry concerning the crime rates in socially excluded Roma communities. As of next year, legislative, personnel and technical measures are to be implemented with an eye towards improving the security situation in problematic settlements and districts of Spišská Nová Ves (Košice region), Rimavská Sobota, Revúca (both Banská Bystrica region) and Košice -okolie (Košice surroundings). According to the minister, Roma specialists are helping to maintain the situation at a sustainable level. While there were only 18 specialists a decade ago, they now number almost 300. Kaliňák underlined that not every Roma settlement is problematic and that some settlements are engaged in cooperation with neighbouring villages and their inhabitants - especially if there are jobs available.