A few weeks ago, our Embassy hosted the launch of the “Campaign for Roma Law Enforcement” by the Fraternal Association of European Roma Law Enforcement Officers (FAERLEO). The aim is to oppose Roma stereotyping in law enforcement and encourage Roma to consider careers in the police force. You can read more here.

It was a natural next step to take up the idea of a familiarisation visit to the XIIIth District Budapest Police Crime Prevention Unit and accompany them on patrol. Gyorgy Makula, the Secretary General of FAERLEO, made the arrangements. So I watched “Nyócker” the movie (about life in the challenging VIIIth District) and mugged up on my Hungarian street slang in preparation, and on the last Friday before Christmas set off with a colleague. Here’s my log.

20.00

Kriszta and I leave the Residence. It’s cold (not quite enough for snow) and raining. My driver Zsolt is ex-Hungarian police and knows what we’re in for. (And after many years of it, isn’t tempted to join us.)

20.30

Arrive at the Police Station for a briefing on the plan for the night. We were warned not to expect great conditions, but it looks fine to me. I’m hoping for a stab vest, just in case, but get given a fetching yellow fluorescent top to put on instead. We set out in a car with Gyorgy and Otto, who has huge experience of Budapest street life. Also involved is intrepid “Times” correspondent Adam, who is put in the charge of Aniko, the only policewoman in tonight’s team. Later we find ourselves coming together with other police teams, plus an MTV camera crew and two journalists from “Magyar Hirlap”. When we converge, we’re a frighteningly large team.

21.00

A major theme is searching for runaway children, often from orphanages. We find ourselves in a tiny, filthy, cramped one-room apartment in a run-down apartment block, occupied by three women and two small children. Yes, one of the runaways has been there recently.

21.30

We make contact with members of the volunteer “citizen guard” force, who are working closely with the police, and check out an area where muggings are common. On a nearby street a woman appears to be standing in a doorway on her own. She’s approached by a man, who has two friends standing nearby and is driving a hire car. It transpires she is walking a dog, which puts in a sudden appearance. The man is just out of prison. After identity checks they are allowed on their way. They just seem to be out after some innocent fun.

22.00

Down in an underpass on Dozsa Gyorgy street, more identities are checked. Homeless people are beginning to bed down for the night in striking numbers. The police tell them where they can find sheltered accommodation for the night, but overall there are too many of them – most of the shelters are probably now full. The relationship between the police and homeless is very positive – most of the latter are good-humoured about being questioned. They know the police presence protects them e.g. from being beaten up by stupid thugs, out for kicks.

22.30

Another underpass, more requests to see identities, more homeless. The police are especially careful to check still bodies. None are dead, but in this temperature it wouldn’t be surprising. Some require a lot of effort to get moving again. The police are clearly concerned I might be too cold. I point out I’m British, and used to a lot worse than this. (My colleague, who is more used to overheated Hungarian accommodation, told me afterwards that she was shivering with cold.)

23.00

We’ve been told of an attic where runaways gather and go to check it out. But the owners of the building have clearly got fed up with this arrangement and the attic entrance has been boarded up to prevent anyone getting in. We hope the children have found somewhere else to go. According to Otto, it’s not that the conditions in orphanages are usually that bad. But the children don’t like the discipline of institutional life.

23.30

Off to Nyugati Station to case the discos that operate there. More identity checks and body searches of those who look as if they might be carrying weapons. Everyone submits compliantly and no one seems too bothered. This doesn’t appear to be a new experience for most of them.

24.00

It’s getting colder and wetter. Even though we would normally expect lots of people to be out enjoying the pre-Christmas spirit, it seems most of them are staying home. No significant incidents have happened and that stab vest wasn’t needed after all. Adam and we decide to cut our losses and go home. With siren in operation, it doesn’t take long.

00.30

And so to bed. It’s been a fascinating experience, despite the lack of excitement. I’ve been tremendously impressed by the way in which the Hungarian police have developed in the 20 years since I first arrived in Hungary, their professionalism and their evident concern for many of the unfortunate people with whom they have to deal. I’m looking forward to dealing with them more on the “Campaign for Roma Law Enforcement”.