TRAVEL REPORT The Hon. Michael Atkinson MP Attorney-General ...

" Centre for Communication" ForensicsThere are 20 Police directorates at the provincial level which are the first portof call . Four categories are part of the directorate of criminal investigation,depending on the complexity of the problem and the number of peoplerequired for the investigation . The organisational structure at this level is verysimilar to the organisation of the ministry . These directorates conduct theinitial investigation and the State Prosecution Office fights and combats crime- so it carries out police work for that office but also works separately . Thespecial directorate is responsible to deal with :" War crimes" Organised crime" Economic crime and corruption" Special investigation means" Criminal analysis" Interpol police co-op (Interpol - Zagreb)There is also, a special section for the witness protection program, an Officefor Public Order as well as a traffic section .Organised Crime started at the beginning of the war years . In 1991, followingthe elections, there was a change of system in Croatia which when added tothe increase in war activities in Croatia created an environment which suitedorganised criminal activities . During 1991-1993, the Police were involved inhostilities and, as a result, certain criminal groups were able to flourish .The Ministry of Interior identified the problem using a number of indicators .During 1993, a department was set up in the Ministry to combat organisedcrime . In 1997, a definition for organised crime was developed within thecriminal law . This was not a RICO law per se, but certain acts within thecriminal law were developed that fell into the category of organised criminalactivity . In 1996, 6,397 criminal acts fell within this definition . That figurestayed fairly constant, so in 1999, there were about 6,500 criminal acts thatfell within that definition . By 2000, the figure had fallen to 887 . This mostrecent figure reflects a decrease in activities under the definition of organisedcrime . The most prevalent organised criminal activity is the trafficking ofhuman beings, mostly illegal migrants from neighbouring countries usingCroatia as a transit point .Mr Spudic also said that during the last five years, three significant groups ofillegal migrants have emerged from SiM . They are mostly Kosovars, fleeingthe troubles, from BiH, who go to Croatia for economic reasons and Arabpeoples, particularly Kurds . A significant number of illegal migrants had beenRumanians, but they have decreased since the E.U . abolished visas .The question of deportation was raised and the delegation was told thatCroatia does deport illegal immigrants ; there are 51 people in the transitcentre to return to Rumania right now . They are not asylum seekers, butTravel Report, Hon. Michael Atkinson, M.P. and Ms . Vini Ciccarello M.P., August, 2004 47