Citizens of northern Kosovo: Why so many police stations? We need jobs and roads

The Kosovo Police have signed a contract worth 1.1 million euros for the construction of a police station and a facility for the Civil Registration Agency in Zubin Potok. However, citizens from four municipalities in the north express to Kosovo Online that another police station is unnecessary, and that the money could have been used in much smarter ways.

"It would be better to use it to create small businesses and employ young people who are unemployed. There are already plenty of buildings and facilities. Why do we need a police station? We already have them. We don’t need more police. We maintain order ourselves, even though we are not the police, we are responsible citizens," a retiree from North Mitrovica said.

Younger residents share similar views.

One resident mentioned that it would have been more beneficial for Zubin Potok to finally build roads instead of a new police station, as some villages are still only accessible by dirt roads.

"It would be better to redirect the funds for the construction of cultural centers. In terms of infrastructure, it would be better to build roads, as some villages around Zubin Potok still don’t have proper roads, they are still dirt tracks. A number of other facilities could have been built instead of spending money on police stations," he emphasized.

The most vocal, a retiree from North Mitrovica, argued that the construction of so many police stations is unnecessary. He believes the money should have been spent on cultural centers, shops, or creating jobs for young people, rather than building "enforcement facilities."

"I think it is unjustified. We don’t need to create a police state and build facilities for enforcement, like for the police and military. It would have been better if they had built a cultural center, employed some young people, or opened a shop," he said.

He also blames the local authorities in the north, accusing them of acting independently without consulting citizens, even though the EU has questioned their legitimacy.

"This local government in the north is illegitimate. They don’t consult the citizens and act on their own. They can’t be legitimate with just a three percent voter turnout; they don’t have the mandate. They have interpreted the elections as legitimate, but everyone says they aren’t, even the EU. They need to ask the citizens, then hold a public debate to come to the best solution, so that the money is spent rationally and for the good of the people," he concluded.