Corruption Risk Management and Strengthening Anti-Corruption Awareness in Law Enforcement Agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Systemic, institutional and bureaucratic corruption represents a serious threat to the further process of democratization of public administration in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also in other Western Balkans countries. Corruption risk management is a strategic response, planned anti-corruption strategy aimed at preventing and stopping widespread corruption from invading deeper into the highest levels of management and destroying public trust in good governance and the rule of law.

Civil servants and police officers, as public servants with special powers, in performing tasks of importance for ensuring legality, legal discipline respecting the regulations, legal principles and the rule of law, represent a potentially risky and particularly sensitive category exposed and susceptible to corruption pressures.

Although the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) and other indirect international indicators indicate a stable intensity of corruption on the overall institutional work and position Bosnia and Herzegovina worst in relation to the region, high standards of professional and ethical behavior in the service would have an affirmative effect on the transformation of collective and organizational culture.

As part of the primary research in this paper, the authors will examine specific corruption risks and impacts, the efficiency of control mechanisms, corruption risk management, and integrity building mechanisms as an anti-corruption strategy among police and inspection bodies. The relevance of the research issues within this research paper will be supported by internal control statistics in law enforcement agencies, as well as judicial institutions, which indicate the level of corruption risks, risky processes, and harmful consequences, with the aim of effectively preventing violations of public service obligations towards citizens and the common good.