A working group of experienced prison officials and senior representatives of Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions met on 20-21 May 2024 in Skopje, to discuss the regulations of Prison Police intervention teams. Introduced as a novelty by the latest amendments to the Law on the Execution of Sanctions from March 2024, these teams are designed to increase the efficiency of the Prison Police and enhance security within prison establishments.

This meeting builds on the results of an assessment mission and supports the implementation of the National Strategy on the Development of the Penitentiary System in the Republic of North Macedonia (2021-2025).

The working group focused on numerous issues that should be covered by the regulation, including the mandate of these teams, the chain of command and organization, as well as the safeguards for the protection of human rights. Recognizing that creating such teams requires longer planning and broader consultations, the working group decided that the first draft regulation should be further scrutinized in the near future and made to reflect the best practices and Council of Europe recommendations.

This meeting was conducted in the framework of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, and its action “Strengthening the capacities of the penitentiary system in North Macedonia”.