The Croatian Judges' Association sharply criticizes Makarska police over the arrest and handcuffing of a judge who reported a verbal assault, only to end up in a misdemeanor court in handcuffs herself.
What began as a typical summer dispute over beach space in Gradac escalated into a serious incident that has stirred Croatia's judicial circles. Varazdin judge G.H. (54) was arrested and taken to the Municipal Misdemeanor Court in Makarska in handcuffs after initially calling the police herself over a verbal altercation with a married couple from Bosnia and Herzegovina, S.S. and A.S., who were also arrested and restrained.
The Croatian Judges' Association (UHS) immediately reacted, requesting an urgent internal review from Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic regarding the conduct of police officers from the Makarska Police Station. In a statement signed by UHS president Damir Kontrec, the proportionality and legality of the use of force are called into question.
According to UHS, the judge called the police on Monday morning after being verbally attacked and insulted by two individuals. The trigger was her moving towels, unoccupied loungers, and other items that had been used to reserve spots on the public beach. Before contacting the police, she also reached out to municipal inspectors, but they were unable to respond.
When police arrived, the judge was directed to the Makarska Police Station to give a statement, which she voluntarily did around noon. However, after providing her account, she was informed she was under arrest on suspicion of disturbing public peace and order. She was detained at the station and then taken to court in handcuffs, where, according to UHS, she waited for her hearing while restrained. The police filed a misdemeanor charge against the judge and the other two individuals, recommending fines for all three.
According to available information, the married couple from Bosnia and Herzegovina, S.S. and A.S., were also arrested and brought to court. All three face misdemeanor charges for disturbing public peace and order, but the final decision on their potential liability has yet to be made by the competent court.
UHS does not question whether a misdemeanor was committed but exclusively challenges the police conduct. They emphasize that an arrest alone is not a legal basis for the automatic use of restraint measures. They stress that such measures may only be applied in cases of threatened resistance, attack, escape, or injury, and must be proportionate to the situation.
The association claims that the judge cooperated with police throughout, did not resist, attempt to flee, or pose a threat to anyone, and even objected to the officer about being handcuffed.
UHS particularly warns that any use of handcuffs must be necessary, justified, and proportionate to the actual security assessment by police officers, not an automatic measure applied regardless of circumstances.
"Routine handcuffing without a security need, especially when exposed to the public or media, can very easily reach the threshold of degrading treatment of any citizen as an arrestee," UHS warns.
UHS requests from Minister Bozinovic an urgent internal review and oversight of the legality and propriety of police conduct, and to be informed of the results. They also announce that, depending on the outcome of the review, they will take further legal steps to protect the dignity of their member. Additionally, they propose an urgent meeting between their representatives and the minister and his associates regarding the disputed police conduct.
