Ombudswoman finds problems at the Slovak Foreign Police

The staff of the Slovak Foreign Police lack sufficient knowledge of foreign languages, the local offices have insufficient staff and material equipment, and face the limitations of the new electronic ordering system. This follows from the findings of the Ombudswoman Mária Patakyová, who examined the processing of applications in the departments of the Foreign Police in Slovakia. Based on these findings she recommended that the Border and Foreign Police Office and the Ministry of the Interior take measures that will enable a more efficient and fairer functioning in relation to applicants. These measures include strengthening the foreign language skills of the staff, and requests that office hours notices and navigation boards in the departments be provided in another foreign language. The shortage of staff should be solved by hiring civilian employees for purely administrative positions. She addressed the Foreign Police on these matters in early June, but has yet to receive feedback.