12/04/24 By introducing a mounted police unit, is the intention to benefit Minister Dabro's advisor?

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Animal Friends Croatia write to Prime Minister Plenković requesting opposition to the introduction of mounted police

- Mounted police were disbanded 20 years ago; two years ago, the Ministry of the Interior stated they were not considering reintroducing mounted units.

After Animal Friends Croatia urged Ministers Božinović and Dabro to abandon the idea of establishing a mounted police unit, they also wrote to Prime Minister Plenković seeking his help to halt the initiative. They emphasized that experiences with mounted police in other countries show not only significant budgetary impacts but also concerns over serious violations of animal welfare and risks to the safety of horses, riders, and the public. Frequent incidents, including injuries and fatalities, are reported, such as the death of a police horse during a football match intervention in England in 2018. Numerous cases of injuries during the use of horses in policing demonstrate that the risks to both horses and human safety are too great and unjustifiable.

"Some citizens have reached out to us, believing this initiative stems from one of Minister Dabro's advisors who stands to gain from it, as the advisor has a direct interest in horse breeding or keeping. Others speculate that the mounted police might be intended to suppress potential protests and social unrest, which is equally concerning. It is troubling if the Croatian police feel the need to rely on horses because they believe their officers, with all the technical resources available, are incapable of doing their jobs," warn Animal Friends Croatia.

They remind that the attempt to establish a mounted police unit in Croatia failed due to the high costs of purchasing, training, and maintaining horses, leading to the removal of horses from the police force in 2003 for financial savings. The Ministry of the Interior stated two years ago that they were not considering establishing mounted units, being satisfied with the specialized equipment and vehicles of special and intervention units. The total costs of introducing and using horses in the Croatian police would amount to millions, which, Animal Friends Croatia stress, is socially inappropriate and entirely unacceptable. Minister Božinović himself acknowledged this in the media, describing it as a serious expense and logistical burden.

"Horses undergo very unpleasant training aimed at desensitization, but even after prolonged training, there is no guarantee that a horse will not succumb to panic. They can be frightened and run off, injuring anyone in their path, as in panic, they strike with their shod hooves, potentially causing fractures, skull injuries, or trampling. Mounted patrols involve hours of riding, which places continuous pressure on the horses' backs. This leads to interrupted circulation, microtraumas, sores, back pain, and muscle atrophy. Over time, horses develop numerous locomotor system diseases and mental disorders. There is also the problem of retired police horses being sent to slaughterhouses, as Croatia lacks shelters for horses," the organization notes.

They highlight that Croatian citizens do not want to fund the suffering of horses for police purposes, as shown by public polls where a majority oppose the establishment of mounted police units: "People are appalled by the idea of absurd scenes of horses on asphalt, amidst cars, trams, and buses, where they absolutely do not belong, causing stress for both horses and people. They don’t want to see horses breaking their legs on tram tracks, scared of traffic noise, or charging at protestors during public gatherings. This would also harm the reputation of both ministries and the government."

Animal Friends Croatia conclude that instead of investing enormous financial resources in mounted police, which in the 21st century is an outdated concept, the future of policing lies in electric vehicles, advanced drone technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

For all these reasons, they have asked Prime Minister Andrej Plenković to ensure that mounted police are not introduced, urging instead the use of modern vehicles and technology, which represent the future of policing and Croatia’s armed forces, protecting both horses and citizens' interests.

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