A new facility will enable the police to better control the border which is increasingly being crossed by migrants.
The former Spačva Hotel, located near a motorway between Zagreb and Belgrade, and not far from Bajakovo, the major border crossing between Croatia and Serbia, has been transformed into the Training and Accommodation Centre of the Border Police of Vukovar-Srijem County, reports Lokalni.hr on January 14, 2018.
The new police station was visited by Interior Minister Davor Božinović, who said that the centre was in an ideal location. “The Bajakovo border crossing is nearby, as well as the motorway itself. Other police stations which cover the border with Serbia are also nearby. Police officers will have the conditions here that I want all Croatian police officers to have. This centre enables us to respond quickly to any unexpected situation. That is why the Croatian border is now safer,” said Božinović.
He explained that the centre would be used by the police officers who come to Vukovar-Srijem County in order to help secure the state border. So far, they had to commute from their police stations to eastern Croatia every day. A lot of time was wasted, which also influenced the efficiency of police operations.
The centre has a total accommodation capacity of 132 persons, including seven suites, six single rooms and 49 double rooms. It also has a kitchen, as well as a meeting room. Each room is equipped with a bathroom, air conditioning, heating, TV. The centre will have nine permanent employees.
“Other police activities will also take place here, such as specialist courses in cooperation with the EU border agency Frontex and courses with border police forces from other EU countries. It is also important to know that all the costs of the facility, accommodation and training are being covered by the EU,” Božinović said, pointing out that the whole project was implemented very quickly.
Head of the border police of Vukovar-Srijem County Krunoslav Janjić said that the police officers themselves were satisfied with the conditions in the centre. “The conditions here are great. We have everything we need to do the job even better. It is also important that we will not lose time on transport,” said Janjić.
The Spačva Hotel closed down recently. At the time, there were rumours that it would be used as a migrant accommodation centre, but in the meantime, its purpose has been reversed, and it will now house the police preventing illegal crossings of the border.
Translated from Lokalni.hr.
