This report provides an assessment of the Serbian police service's capacity to fight economic crime. The authors addressed a number of recommendations to the Serbian authorities and to other relevant international actors.
This research was undertaken in an attempt to assess the Serbian police capacities to fight economic crime. In Serbia during 2004, cases of economic crime comprised 12% of all cases investigated by the Serbian police. It is estimated, however, that the property damage it causes counts for more than 60% of all property damage caused by all forms of crime combined. Economic criminals take advantage of the instability of Serbia's political and economic institutions during the transition to a democracy and market economy.
Serbia's legislation does not always meet modern legal standards for combating economic crime. While legislation regulating this area has gradually improved, it is necessary that all standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) are met and that all new forms of economic crime have corresponding punishments in the forthcoming Criminal Code.
The authors addressed a number of recommendations to the Serbian authorities and to other relevant international actors.