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
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