This study aimed to explore the set of variables related to skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in both sexes, and to create age- and sex-related models of changes in SMM, using the most representative indicator of muscular status. Body composition was assessed in 8733 subjects (♀ = 3370 and ♂ = 5363), allocated into subsamples according to age: 18–29.9, 30–39.9, 40–49.9, 50–59.9, 60–69.9, and 70.0–79.9 years. Nine variables were used: protein mass, protein percent, protein mass index, SMM, percent of SMM, SMM index, fat-free mass, fat-free mass index, and protein/fat index. Univariate and multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA and MANOVA) were used to determine between- and within-sex difference in all variables by age. Correlation analysis established the relationship between age and muscularity variables. Principal Component Analysis extracted the variables that loaded highest in explaining muscularity, while regression analysis determined the linearity of association between the age and indicators of muscular status. Variables SMMI and PSMM were extracted as the most sensitive to age, with SMMI being gender-independent while showing the parabolic and sinusoidal form of change as function of ageing in males and females, respectively; and PSMM being sex-dependent while showing a linear trend of decrease in both sexes.

The physical fitness of police officers needs to support good health and physical performance. Physical fitness comprises a considerable amount of training for police students who are to become police officers. However, to what degree police students are able to perceive their fitness level and differentiate between health-related and performance-related physical fitness is unknown. Therefore, the first aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of differentiation between health-related and performance-related physical fitness using physical self-concept and measured indicators of physical fitness. The second aim of this study was to investigate the association between components of physical self-concept and measured indicators of physical fitness of police students. The sample of 177 police students of both sexes (98 males and 79 females) completed a 40-item physical self-description questionnaire and their physical abilities were assessed for handgrip strength, standing long jump, 30 s sit-ups, and 12-min running. Principal component analysis established health-related and performance-related physical fitness from both perceived and measured physical fitness measures. Correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship between the perceived and measured physical fitness. Results suggest small to moderate ability to recognize the level of certain physical abilities, indicating the association between psychological mechanisms and biological functioning.

The Police Operational Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-Op) and Police Organizational Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-Org) have been used to assess operational and organizational sources of police officers’ occupational stress. Considering that different cultural and socio-economic environments could affect officers’ perception of operational and organizational stress, country specific psychometric properties and cut-off values should be defined. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Serbian version of the PSQ-Op and PSQ-Org (i.e., translated in Serbian and adjusted to Serbian culture) and to establish cut-off values for low, moderate and high stress. Methods: The PSQ-Op and PSQ-Org were administered to police officers through the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia. Participants included 1220 police officers (19.0% female) who correctly completed both questionnaires. Cronbach’s α was used to determine the reliability of instruments. Cut-off values for low, moderate and high stress were defined based on the mean and standard deviation of the sample and using percentile analysis. Prevalence of low, moderate and high stress was calculated according to already established cut-off values as well as those calculated based on the study sample. Results: Both instruments showed high reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.963 [95% Confidence Interval = 0.957–0.964]). Occupational stress levels (low, moderate and high) were distributed differently (p < 0.001) when categorized according to the cut-off values defined in literature and cut-off values based on the study sample. The cut-off values by mean and standard deviation could be used for PSQ-Op, while cut-off values by percentile analysis could be used for PSQ-Org.

The current Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence basically regulates the organization, goals and manner of acting of competent state authorities and institutions in preventing this type of violence and in protecting victims and supporting victims of this violence in the Republic of Serbia. Experiences of competent police officers, prosecutors and judges acquired during their specialized training and nine-month practical implementation of the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence, confirmed some of the specific characteristics, but also pointed out some problems in the implementation of the Law. Starting from this, the research whose results were presented in the work was aimed at identifying, systematizing and scientifically describing the characteristics of the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence that are of particular importance for understanding its essence and for its effective and efficient implementation. The results of such directed research, as particularly important characteristics of this Law, have been identified in the paper as well: 1) targeted the Law on preventive action (prevention) and higher level of expertise of officials for the application of protection of victims of violence (protection), 2) formalization of the risk assessment procedure and pronouncement of urgent measures (processing), 3) the statutory law (competence) cooperation and coordination of activities between competent authorities and institutions in its implementation (integration). Such a conception of legal solutions, conditions have been created to overcome some of the previously expressed problems of preventing domestic violence. The most significant of these are: 1) the problem of 'dark figures' as a consequence of the absence of reporting and processing of domestic violence, 2) the problem of legal and security vacuum in the protection of victims, 3) the problem of insufficient competence and the lack of cooperation between providers of prevention of domestic violence and 4) the problem of overlap and / or gap in the structure of responsibility for the protection of victims of this violence.

Background: Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak was a sudden unknown stressor that could cause fear among people. Police officers were in the front lines, often unknowingly in direct contact with infected individuals, thus fear of getting infected (i.e., fear of COVID-19) could be higher in this...

Police diplomacy is one of the most interesting issues of the contemporary international relations. Sources of this issue comes at the beginning of XX century. Organized criminal and terrorism influenced on appearance of international police cooperation at the end of XIX century. Police cooperation has enlarged last years. Termins police attach? and liason officer are used for the same purpose, but there are four key distinctions between them.