UNMIK/PR/936
PRISTINA - In response to continuing press reports, UNMIK Police deny the existence of uniformed “Serbian Gendarmerie” patrolling north of the Ibar. UNMIK Police have found no evidence of any such activity.
An article originally published in Koha Ditore claimed that some 300 uniformed Serb police were operating out of Banjska, a village ten kilometers north of Mitrovica. UNMIK Police and KFOR went to Banjska and found absolutely no trace of any unusual activity – much less a large contingent of police.
“There are nearly 1,000 police in the Mitrovica region – all of them either UNMIK or KPS,” said Police Commissioner Stefan Feller. “To be precise, UNMIK has 402 officers and the KPS has 574. On a typical day these officers mount 26 checkpoints, 87 mobile patrols and 36 foot patrols.” Needless to say, hundreds of unauthorized police would not pass unnoticed by UNMIK Police and the KPS.