(source: SME)
It is the most numerous police squad to have ever operated abroad, said Police Corps President Tibor Gašpar. The officers will be patrolling in fours, together with their Hungarian, Czech and Polish counterparts.
“It’s a great representation of Slovakia and also a pragmatic contribution in the way that is also pragmatic what we are doing in Gabšíkovo [Trnava Region], where we for some time, have been temporarily accommodating those seeking asylum in Austria,” Prime Minister Robert Fico said, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
A total of 170 officers are on their way to assist Hungary along with the Czechs who are sending 50 police officers and Poland 70. Such decision by the Visegrad Group (V4) countries surprised the counterparts in the European Union, according to Fico.
Hungary will look after the officer’s with regard to accommodation, food, fuel and minor repairs. Fico announced that he and Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák will visit the officers in about two weeks’ time, as reported by TASR.
The squad is armed and equipped for patrols with handguns, night vision goggles and four-wheel drive vehicles, Gašpar said. He added that he does not expect them to actively intervene against migrants, rather they will only be there to assist.
