PM says sanctions for attacks on police officers are too mild

Vida Čadonič Špelič, a New Slovenia (NSi) MP, wanted to know how and when the government will start solving the Roma issues, noting that the community was a victim of inadequate social, criminal and labour legislation. This has resulted in security problems in the south-east of Slovenia, so now legislative solutions are needed, she said.

Golob replied that only in certain Roma settlements, perhaps 10 out of 92, the security situation "has got out of hand". In these, a different policy has to be implemented, he said, adding that the police had significantly increased their presence there since the summer. In addition, in September the ministry set up a task force to address security issues.

A recent attack on a police officer has showed that sanctions for attacks on a public office holder are too mild, as perpetrators are released from custody too soon, Golob said. He believes legislative changes are needed introducing an at least two-year sentence. "If we do not do this, it will be us, in this case the National Assembly, who will allow attacks on officers to continue," he said.

The prime minister stressed it would be wrong to criminalise the entire Roma population though. He said he had been shocked that parents of the majority population are taking justice in their own hands and attack Roma children, encouraged by the hatred spread by politicians. "I think this should be the last warning that we should stop spreading hatred towards the Roma, because this clearly leads to incidents such as the one we witnessed last week," he said.

Čadonič Špelič stressed how important it is for socialisation that Roma children attend school to which Golob replied that measures are planned to boost the integration of the Roma minority. He said the instrument of a Roma assistant, so a person helping integrate Roma children, would be expanded.