The Pearl of the Adriatic has rightly upheld its status as one of the safest destinations in the world.
As Dubrovački Dnevnik reports on the 11th of October, 2017, a few years ago, the ''US Wall Street Cheat Sheet'' released a list of the six safest destinations in the world, including Dubrovnik, and respectable tourist oriented websites such as TripAdvisor and VirtualTourist regularly classify Croatia's southernmost city as one of the safest cities to visit where the greatest ''dangers'' are merely sea urchins or slippery streets.
Another successful tourist season is almost behind us, a summer season which passed without any major incidents or security risks, regardless of the fact that the number of people visiting Dubrovnik in the summer months has increased to an unexpectedly high level. Citizens and tourists walk freely on the streets, completely safe, and, as has been reported already, both the city and the wider Dubrovnik-Neretva County have recorded positive tourist results which include millions of arrivals and overnight stays.
The "Pearl of the Adriatic", as many people like to call Dubrovnik, would be visited in any case due to its incredibly rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, but the question remains, given the sheer amount of people the city has seen this year, would it have all taken place with such order and peace without the tireless efforts of the Dubrovnik-Neretva Police Administration?
Dubrovnik's 2017 tourist season continues to show a decreasing trend in the number of thefts, crime and traffic accidents. This can be confirmed by positive results from PU Dubrovačko-Neretvanska Županija for this season, which were given to the Dubrovnik local publication upon their request.
According to the data provided by the police, the most positive results were recorded when it comes to much lower figures in the case of theft, in the period from the 1st of May, 2017, to the 1st of October, 2017.
"In the observed period this year, we recorded 97 reports of theft, which represents a decrease of 15% compared to the same period in 2016 when 114 cases of theft were reported,'' states PU DNŽ (Dubrovnik-Neretva County Police)
In addition, a reduction in offenses against public order and peace in the period from the 1st of May to the 1st October this year was also recorded, a decrease compared to the same period last year.
"In relation to offenses against public order and peace, in the mentioned period in 2017, we recorded 293 offenses, which represents a 7% decrease compared to 2016 when we recorded 315 offenses" states the police.
In true Dubrovnik style, with its seemingly eternal problems with traffic (and everything else to do with cars), the decline in traffic accidents this year was insignificant, but a decrease still exists. In the period from the 1st of May to the 1st of October, 2017, 492 traffic accidents occurred in total, compared with the same period of 2016, where 497 traffic accidents were recorded, representing a decrease of just 1%.
In regard to traffic accidents that occurred in 2017 in the wider Dubrovnik area, six people died in six separate traffic accidents, while in the same period in 2016, three people died in three traffic accidents.
The number of traffic accidents which resulted in non-fatal injury of some kind is the same as was recorded during last year's season, while accidents involving material damage this season seem to have fallen.
During the aforementioned period, several operational actions were carried out which resulted in the arrest of several persons involved in the procurement and resale of drugs (cocaine, marijuana, amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA etc). Mario Žigić of Gruda's border control received one of the two awards presented this year by the Ministry. The award was presented to him for outstanding results in detecting large quantities of drugs at the border crossing.
The new head of PU Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Ivan Pavličević, announced that he will continue on with the positive trends initiated by his predecessor, Tonči Radibratović, and it is absolutely expected that the safety of both citizens and tourists of Croatia's tourist Mecca will remain at the highest possible level, which remains one of the best and most valuable advertisements for Dubrovnik as not only a beautiful destination, but a safe and secure one.
