BRATISLAVA - ANNUAL OSAC CRIME / SAFETY REPORT

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000025 DS/DSS/OSAC-SCHWABE AND DS/IP/EUR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC KSAC SUBJECT: BRATISLAVA - ANNUAL OSAC CRIME / SAFETY REPORT REF: STATE 132056 ¶1. Overall Crime and Safety Situation: The Slovak Republic has a medium rate of crime. Although violent crime is not unheard of, it is relatively uncommon. Visitors are urged to exercise precautions practiced in any large city such as using the Buddy System; instead of walking alone at night, take somebody with you and keep to well-lit, populous areas if possible. It is also good practice to pay attention to your personal belongings, as all are popular targets of the local thieves. The local pickpockets are professional and most active during the summer months. They tend to utilize distraction techniques to confuse their target, preferring locations such as shopping centers, bus stops, markets and public transportation in the vicinity of "Old Town" or near major hotels where foreigners stay, and near tourist sites or on the night trains to Prague and Warsaw. Power struggles within the organized crime syndicates, which can be violent, occur from time to time mostly outside of Old Town Bratislava. This activity is not directed against Americans or other foreigners. The rate of auto theft, which is also connected to organized crime, is very high in Bratislava. High-end European and American cars are preferred targets of theft. The use of alarm systems or anti-theft devices is strongly recommended. ¶2. Political Violence: The threat of political violence directed against American citizens is low. Public demonstrations in Slovakia are not uncommon, but are peaceful. Demonstrations must be pre-approved by the city and are generally small, numbering less than 100 participants. The threat of terrorism in Slovakia directed against American citizens generally would be considered low as well. However, U.S. citizens and U.S. interests abroad remain at risk of terrorist attacks, including by groups with links to Al-Qaida. These individuals do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. Americans visiting the Slovak Republic are urged to abide by local laws and monitor the local news. ¶3. Post-Specific Concerns: The Slovak Republic is generally considered to be a relatively safe place to live. However, one security concern relates to the 'Skinhead' elements that are present in the country. Although they do not specifically target American citizens, any non-Caucasian individual is considered to be an �0A;unwelcome foreigner. Skinheads tend to target members of the "Roma" (Gypsy) minority, but have been known to attack other non-Caucasian persons as well. Laws have been enacted to fight the racially motivated attacks that include stiffer penalties than the "normal" assault statutes, but it is a crime that is difficult to prove. Therefore, it is not uncommon for the prosecutors to charge the offenders under the more easily proved simple assault statutes to increase the chance of a successful prosecution; the perpetrator thus avoids the heavier penalty carried by the hate-crime statutes. ¶4. Police Response: Many elements of the police are considered by the public to be corrupt. As such, their image in the public is tarnished. The current government has identified this as a serious issue and continues to take steps to combat corruption. One example pertains to the issuance of traffic citations. In the past, traffic police were authorized to collect fines, payable in cash, resulting from routine traffic violations such as speeding. The current procedure now require traffic cops to issue a citation to the suspected offender, which is payable at a later date. Still, police corruption for traffic cops, especially for Slovak citizens, remains a problem. According to a RSO source, Slovaks are encouraged to pay bribes at the police station - directly to a police officer - in exchange for lighter penalties. A bottle of American brand whiskey or perhaps 200 Euro could determine whether an offender is charged with Driving Under the Influence and loss of a driver's license for six months, or avoid the DUI charge and receive only a temporary suspension of their driver's license. From a street-crime standpoint, the Slovak police are poorly trained and fairly unprofessional. They do not have the skills to effectively investigate a crime, preserve a crime scene, conduct interviews, or gather evidence. As with any police department there are professional elements whose desire is to get the job done right, but who are not provided the correct amount of funding, training or other resources to accomplish their assigned tasks. Their responsiveness to a criminal incident will therefore depend on the type and severity of the crime involved, and likely, the social status of the complainant. Many foreigners who have been the victim of crime will find their interactions with the police to be somewhat frustrating due to the language barrier; few police officers speak English. However, the police do make an effort to staff their 24-hour emergency numbers with individuals who have some English-speaking capabilities. The police can call interpreters, when needed. The emergency numbers are listed below: Police (Emergency): 158 Police (Non-Emergency): 09610-1111 Fire: 150 Ambulance: 155 ¶5. Medical Emergencies: Medical facilities and services are extremely limited throughout the Slovak Republic and do not present the appearance nor services that one would expect of a U.S. hospital. Generally, unless it is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention, Embassy staff will use medical facilities in Vienna or elsewhere in Austria. In the event of a medical emergency requiring immediate care, the Embassy has contracted with a local English-speaking doctor to provide medical advice to Embassy personnel as well as act an "expediter" through the Slovak medical system. It is worth noting that hospitals in Austria tend not to release the patient as quickly as hospitals in the United States. Matters considered by some Americans as "routine" may require an overnight stay or perhaps a few days in the hospital. Listed below are some useful contact numbers: NAME Dr. Capova TYPE Medical ADDRESS Krajinsk 91 Pavilion G, Door 310 Podunajske Biskupice TELEPHONE 4025-1235 or 09034-637-836 NAME Dr. Kostolanska TYPE Medical ADDRESS Krasna Horka Hospital Dumbierska 3 Pavilion C, First Floor TELEPHONE 5954-2754 or 0903-263-913 NAME Dr. Ingrid Lehotska TYPE Dentist ADDRESS Mierova 52A Bratislava, Slovakia TELEPHONE 4342-6984 or 4342-7017 NAME Dr. Adriena Nemcova TYPE Dentist ADDRESS Drienova 16 Bratislava, Slovakia TELEPHONE 4333-5703 Bratislava City Ambulance 155 Kramare Hospital Limbova 5 833 05 Bratislava 5954-1111 or 5477-2163 or 5477-3466 Hainburg Hospital Hainburg, Austria 0043-21-6590-5010 ¶6. Tips on how to avoid becoming a victim: The crimes most reported to the Regional Security Officer involve petty theft (purse-snatching, cellular telephone grabbing, pick-pocketing). The individuals most often targeted for these types of crimes are newly-arrived personnel and tourists who are unfamiliar with the local environment and do not pay attention to their surroundings. A traveler can minimize the chances of becoming a victim by taking the basic, yet necessary personal security precautions one would take in any congested urban environment, including increasing awareness of one's surroundings and properly securing valuables on his person or in a hotel room. Most reports are generated in "Old Town" Bratislava, the historic district that is lined with cobblestone streets and numerous outdoor cafes. The congregation of tourists in this area leads to the influx of criminal elements eager to rid a visitor of his valuables. Travelers should minimize the amount of valuables and money they carry on their person. Automobile theft is a common occurrence in the Slovak Republic. Many stolen vehicles are quickly transported out of the country for resale in neighboring countries. Preferred targets for the auto thief are up-market European and American cars. The use of an alarm system or anti-theft device is strongly encouraged. The security guard company sector is a growth industry in Slovakia. However, many of these companies have ties to organized crime. As with any business venture, care should be taken to choose a reputable company when selecting a security service. ¶7. For further information: All numbers should be proceeded by the country code (421) and city code (2). AMERICAN EMBASSY: 5443-0861 or 5443-3338 DUTY OFFICER: 0903-703-666 (From outside Slovakia, call 421-903-703-666) CONSULAR SECTION: 5922-3299 FOREIGN COMMERCIAL SECTION: 5920-5311 REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICER: 5922-3051 MARINE SECURITY GUARD: 5922-3393 OBSITNIK