Police fighting fake news amid Roma-related tensions

The General Police Administration said on Friday that there were fake news reports on social media alleging different crimes in Kočevje in recent days that did not actually take place.

One of such disinformation examples claimed an axe attack against healthcare staff happened in Kočevje, which a police investigation dismissed. The police also rejected speculations about robberies at one of the local shops after it turned out that the shops were closed that day and there was no theft whatsoever.

There have also been false stories about Kočevje police officers quitting their job due to Roma-related issues. Reports were circulating that some of the local police officers locked themselves in the police station to protect themselves from Roma individuals, another case of fake news, as police stations are as a rule always locked, especially at night.

The General Police Administration also noted in a press statement that the number of police officers in Kočevje is higher than in other comparable departments, and more officers will be hired this year once they have finished their training.

The police force is constantly monitoring the on-the-ground situation and seeking to tackle long-standing staff shortages. Additional units have been sent to Kočevje and Ribnica to step up efforts to ensure security there.

Any distortion of police work is unfair to officers and undermines the trust in the police. "Unverified information on social media unnecessarily creates panic and undermines a sense of security."

The Ljubljana Police Department also expressed concern about the rise in fake news as it commented on a recent case involving a minor which elicited criticism of police work over alleged double standards.

A recording of the incident circulated on social media showing two police officers carrying out a procedure while the minor can be seen dancing next to a vehicle. Some comments under the video accused the officers of being less strict because the person involved was allegedly a Roma individual.

But the department's head Tomislav Omejec explained that the local officers knew the person involved and proceeded the way they thought was best under the given circumstances. They did not feel threatened and followed the principle of proportionality in the police procedure.

Moreover, the person is a minor, meaning they are especially vulnerable, he told the press on Friday.

The local police officers know the Kočevje security situation best. Trusting them is key, Omejec said, hopeful that the tensions will soon de-escalate.

Police presence in the areas has been reinforced after several incidents, including one where stones were thrown at a municipal traffic warden on duty in a Roma village near Novo Mesto in June and another where a group of Roma assaulted police officers performing a routine traffic stop involving a Roma minor in the Kočevje area in August.