BKB celebrates its 15th anniversary

BKB celebrates its 15th anniversary

This non-governmental, non-profit organisation was founded on the initiative of eight people. They were all endowed with strong empathy and they retained pragmatic civil attitude towards the topic. The founders were two journalists, a police psychologist and a teacher at the Faulty of Law, a police officer, a judge and a merited master of sports. Four of them continually work in Bily kruh bezpeci up to the present day.

At the beginning valuable device of the association and concordant understanding between professional and civil attitude of its members were created. In 1991, exactly on September 4th, Bily kruh bezpeci was registered. Its mission pursues three aims: provide direct support to victims, participate in crime prevention and strive for improving rights and status of victims in criminal procedure. The founders did not remain lonely. The organisation was getting stronger each year. But it never strived for mass passive membership. On the contrary it systematically approached capable and disposed experts, especially lawyers and psychologists. To the present day minimal professional apparatus of six people manages Bily kruh bezpeci. Most of work in six regions is carried out by volunteers.

Direct support to victims of crime is built on personal contact with a couple of advisers – a lawyer and an expert in psychological assistance. 170 volunteers provide this service for free. They have all completed three-day internal training and have regular opportunity to participate in Bily kruh bezpeci specialised courses. Their engagement is stable and long-term by virtue of their professional education and strong personal motivation.

In 2006 the association consists of nine centres, one of which is the non-stop help line. The association collaborates with a number of organisations, both state and non-governmental for the sake of victims. It provides consultancy and aid also to victims´ family members and to witnesses of serious crimes. In exceptional cases it offers above standard services including visits at home or in hospital, assistance in cross-border crime cases or escort to court. During its fifteen-year functioning Bily kruh bezpeci has documented nearly 30 000 contacts with citizens seeking help from this organisation.

In the field of primary crime prevention the association focuses especially on vulnerable groups of citizens – children, senior and handicapped citizens and people exposed to domestic violence. Throughout its existence it organises courses for general public and professionals, trainings and workshops. Among the most requested we can mention the one for teachers called “Twelve Subject Matters to Be Discussed with Adolescents”. Various professional groups also belong to vulnerable groups. As an example we can instance bank staff members who are in contact with clients at counters. The course in risk and prevention of robbery is designed for them. Bily kruh bezpeci also issues a number of handouts and booklets, gives lectures at the Justice Academy, Police Academy and schools for social and law studies. It closely collaborates with media, both in news service and reports. We just remind of six-series documentary about victims or “Let’s Defend Ourselves” TV series for public television.

The awareness of Czech community about existence of Bily kruh bezpeci is high. In the poll focusing on unprompted public knowledge about non-profit organisations and foundations in the Czech Republic that was conducted by a PR agency in spring 2005 the citizens mentioned Bily kruh bezpeci most frequently, i.e. in the first place.

A group of experts that initiates legislative changes has been established within the association. The proposals for changes have been in most cases of high quality and have been reflected in the Penal Code and the Penal Procedures Code amendments. In 2004 this group of experts in Bily kruh bezpeci elaborated broad proposal for the act on protection against domestic violence that was approved by the Czech Parliament in 2006. The association has also proposed necessary organisational measures that have been presented to state administration. Among all we can mention the proposal to establish separate waiting-rooms for victims at the courts.

The association pays a lot of attention to own publishing activities and relations with public. The quarterly Bily kruh bezpeci Bulletin has been published for fifteen years. Bily kruh bezpeci publications, booklets, manuals and other prints create an extensive file of edifying and professional literature. Legal initiatives could not be successful without prior consistent analytical and research work. Bily kruh bezpeci pays constant attention to information and analysis of empirical findings. It has been collaborating for instance with the Institute of Psychology of the Academy of Science in research on occurrence of bullying at primary schools; with STEM agency in repeated representative researches on domestic violence; with the Institute for Criminology and Social Prevention in researches on victims of crimes.

Petra Vitoušová