Rožňava District Police Headquarters in eastern Slovakia. (source: TASR)
At the Rožňava District Police Headquarters in eastern Slovakia, officers must navigate the stairs to reach their office, despite a lift in the building.
“Unfortunately, the lift is currently out of operation,” a receptionist told Korzár, a sister publication of The Slovak Spectator.
The lift has been out of service for five years, in fact.
The Interior Ministry, which oversees the police, has known about the issue since 2019 but has yet to address it due to alleged budget constraints. Moreover, ministry spokesperson Matej Neumann has dubbed the lift “irreparable.”
The defunct lift affects not only the 36 police officers and 14 civilian staff but also clients, particularly those with disabilities. Although Neumann asserts that clients with limited mobility are served on the ground floor, Korzár reports that staff have had to assist disabled individuals up the stairs for hearings.
The timeline for repairing the lift remains unknown. The police station, including its roof and insulation, might be renovated sooner than the lift.
Falling window panes, previously a safety hazard, are now secured, according to Neumann.
As Rožňava’s police - and possibly many other police stations around the country - operate from deteriorating buildings amid alleged funding shortages, Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas) is attempting to stem the exodus of officers by offering a €5,000 bonus to both experienced officers and new recruits.
Slovakia is said to be facing a shortage of over 3,000 police officers.
