Strengthening the police in divided societies - empowerment and accountability in Bosnia-Herzegovina

After 11 years of international assistance the police in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) still struggle to perform their duties effectively and impartially against a backdrop of nationalist party politics and ethnic divisions. Responsiveness and accountability are critical factors for the success of democratic policing but become problematic where the police are confronted with conflicting demands and nationalist agendas. This article takes a closer look at internationally driven measures to strengthen the police, build public confidence and reduce political interference. They include the introduction of Police Commissioners/Directors and laws on police, support for non-partisan state-level institutions and Police Restructuring. Other measures have sought to engender public trust by addressing misconduct and strengthening police-community relations. Attempts to foster the law enforcement capacity of the police have been quite successful, but they are still held hostage by their political context and the wider debate on the national cohesion of BiH.