TIRANA, May 16 /ATA/ Minister of Interior Taulant Balla underlined on Thursday in Parliament the need to tighten criminal law, expressing his conviction that the justice system will start working on this.
Referring to the recent tragedy in Fier, where a police officer was killed, the minister said that the punishment of justice for anyone who defies the police officer should be severe, as laid down in the Criminal Code.
“I want to hear from you the support that the State Police need today. Due to importance of the State Police duty, today’s society needs to reflect on attitudes and public support that we must give to the State Police as the sole guardian of security day to day. Who does not obey the order, the call of the State Police, who resists, dares to insult, attack, threaten, or God forbid, take the life of police officer, in the line of duty, or because of his duty, should be clear today that the tolerance of the State Police and other law enforcement and justice agencies will be zero,” said Balla.
“If the citizen thinks he is right, while the Police officer is wrong, the citizen has every right, and can exhaust all the mechanisms to appeal the decision of the Police through administrative and judicial channels. However, any act of opposition and resistance cannot and should not be tolerated. Whoever disagrees with the order or decision of the police officer, he or she can get a lawyer”, said Balla.
“The Assembly has done its duty by approving the legal acts. We need to set a new standard regarding the authority of the State Police employee. We, the Assembly and the government together with the society, must never accept cases when even the deputies are involved in confrontation with police insulting, intimidating, putting the lives of State Police employees at risk. It is time to set a new standard for anyone who defies the State Police employee,” said Balla.
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