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229. The GET also understood that KMar and the NPN can cooperate and provide support to each
other in the course of investigations. Current investigations and new incidents are discussed
periodically between the KMar and the NPN, as well as with the Public Prosecution Service and the
Legal Human Resources Advice (JuHRA).

External oversight and control

230. The Whistleblowers Authority (established in 2016) is an independent administrative body
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providing support to anyone who reports work-related abuse within the public or private sector.
The authority provides advice on a confidential basis and may also carry out investigations.
Employees may report work related abuse, e.g. danger to the effective functioning of a public
administration; however, such reports should first have been made internally to their employer,
before the Whistleblowers Authority can issue an investigation. In some cases, internal
whistleblowing is not considered a reasonable option – for example in the case of immediate danger
or when top management is involved in the wrongdoing – and whistleblowers can immediately
report to an external channel.

231. The National Ombudsman deals with complaints from the general public about the public
administration and informs public-administration agencies how they can improve their services. The
National Ombudsman can start an investigation in response to problems or complaints, only if the
complainant has also reported his/her complaint also to the authority concerned (for more details
see paragraph 50). The Ombudsman regularly meets with the Chief of the National Police (two times
a year) to follow the implementation of his recommendations. In general, the NPN implements the
Ombudsman’s recommendations (approx. 90% of them).

232. The Court of Audit is an independent body that investigates whether the Central Public
Administration (including the NPN and Defence) is spending public money sensibly, efficiently and
carefully. The Court of Audit does not only carry out financial investigations. In 2015, for example, it
carried out an initial investigation into integrity within the in NPN in relation to accepting gifts and
responding to invitations

233. The Central Government Audit Service is the internal auditor of central public administration.
It investigates, among other things, the financial management of the Ministries. A significant part of
the audits are demand-driven – requested by the Ministries. Sometimes they are initiated following
questions in Parliament or media publications. The ADR conducted three audits of the NPN in recent
years, including on the acceptance of gifts and invitations within the NPN; on the improvement
programme on procurement and an audit on the processes/internal control concerning the expenses
of the Central Works Council.

234. The Board of Procurators General, under whose responsibility the NPN Internal Investigations
Department operates, is the oversight body of the NPN Internal Investigations Department. The
Public Prosecutor’s Office supervises all criminal investigations, including the ones conducted by the
NPN and the KMar.

Complaints of the public

235. Complaints against the police are handled in accordance with the NPN Complaints Handling
Regulations and the NPN Implementing Regulation for Complaints Handling 2013. They are recorded

51 A report must relate to a situation of abuse of social relevance, such as a violation of a statutory rule; danger to public
health; danger of harm to the environment; danger to the effective functioning of a public-administration agency or
company because of improper acts or omissions.

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