BELGRADE — Serbia’s struggle to maintain basic institutional functionality was on full display as only 606 candidates applied for 850 available positions in the Belgrade Police Department, sources from the Basic Police Training Center (COPO) in Sremska Kamenica.
The recruitment campaign, announced on September 16, was meant to fill positions for new officers who would serve in Belgrade after completing their training. The original application deadline of October 15 had to be extended to October 31 due to the extremely low number of candidates a rare public embarrassment for the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP).
Even after the extension, turnout remained underwhelming. Early reports indicated only about 200 candidates had applied by mid-October, a figure the Ministry of Internal Affairs did not officially confirm.
“It is, by far, the lowest turnout since COPO was established,” said a COPO source. For comparison, in 2012, 2,583 candidates competed for just 380 positions, highlighting how dramatically interest in police work has declined over the past decade.
The 606 applicants are not guaranteed admission. They must still undergo a series of elimination tests, including a Serbian language exam, psychological evaluation, and physical fitness assessment.
The recruitment shortfall reflects wider challenges facing Serbia’s law enforcement and public institutions: declining trust in state authority, poor working conditions, and a perceived lack of professionalism in governance.
The Belgrade recruitment debacle is yet another reminder that, under the current administration, even basic state functions like staffing the capital’s police force can turn into a national embarrassment.
