Public Opinion Poll Public awareness of corruption and familiarity with

the work of the Directorate For Anti-Corruption Initiative

January 2011, Podgorica

By:

Government of Montenegro Directorate for Anti-Corruption initiative

● Survey Description

● Goals● Methodology● Organisation

● Findings

● Recommendations

I Survey Description

Survey Goals

● Assess public awareness and knowledge of corruption;

● Analyse public attitude to manifestations of corruption;

● Analyse the familiarity with the ways to combat corruption;

● Determine the level of public knowledge about DACI activities;

● Determine the level of public trust in DACI.● Comparison of 2009 and 2010 findings

Main Survey Features

● Methodology● Quantitative survey

●

● Data collection method● direct structured interviews, face-to-face

●

● Sample● 1095 adult respondents

●

● Duration of field work● 01-15 December 2010

●

● Organisation, analysis and report● CEED Podgorica

II FINDINGS

Familiarity with the work of DACI

Have you heard of DACI? Please state the activities of DACI?

What is DACI?

N=1095 (100%) N=658 ( 99,6%)

N=808 (99,7%)

●As compared to the 2009 findings, the familiarity with DACI and its activities remained at approximately the same level.

●Public awareness of the type of institution DACI is, is greater than shown by last year findings. Close to 69.4% citizens recognise DACI as a state authority.

Ways of learning about DACI

Where have you heard of DACI first?

N= 806 (99,8%)

Have you heard of any of the following DACI campaigns?

N= 1095 (100%)

●In 2010, as was the case in 2009, in the greatest number of cases (79.3%) the public learnt about DACI on TV. ●The public recognises most frequently the campaigns “Keep your eyes wide open – Report corruption!” and “Report corruption – the rest is up to us”.●Almost one in two respondents believe that these campaigns encouraged citizens to combat corruption.

Public trust in DACI (1)

To what extent you personally trust the work of DACI in combating corruption?

N=1095 (100%)

Would you report corruption to DACI?

N= 1095 (100%)

●Half of respondents were ready to report corruption to DACI, as was also the case in 2009.

●Majority of citizens (63.5%) trust the work of DACI. Almost the same percentage of trust was enjoyed in 2009.

Public trust in DACI (2)

What are the main reasons why you would not report corruption?

N= 579 (100%)

●Lack of trust is the single most important reason why

respondents would not report corruption.

●Nevertheless, as compared to the previous year, the level of

mistrust has decreased.

Presence of corruption (1)When accessing your rights before the state/local authorities, have you ever been conditioned by any public servant to give bribe?

● In the greatest number of cases, the respondents were not asked to give bribe, nor did they offer it.

● In 2010 there is a greater number of citizens who reported that they were asked for bribe and offered bribe.

Have you ever offered any kind of bribe to exercise the right you are entitled to by law?

N= 1095 (99,5%) N= 1095 (99,5%)

● Equal level of passive and active bribery. Namely, by additional analysis it was established that respondents who were asked to give bribe at one point were the ones who offered bribe in order to exercise their rights.

Presence of corruption (2)In which areas/institutions is corruption

most prevailing?What are the main causes of corruption?

N= 3597 (99,9%)

● In 2010 the presence of corruption was most frequently recognised in the health sector.● The most important cause of corruption are low salaries of public servants.● The total of 14.4% of respondents, or 1.6% less than in 2009, believe that the lack of civil awareness of

the harm caused by corruption is also the cause of corruption.

N= 2389 (99,9%)

Presence of corruption (3)What is your opinion of the presence of corruption in Montenegro today as compared to the situation as of a year ago? Basis: N= 1095 (99,9%)

Who is criminally liable for active and passive bribery?● Seven out of ten respondents believe that both the person giving and the person

receiving bribe bear criminal liability for corruptive offences (the same share as in 2009).

%

Significantly reduced 5.8Partly reduced 25.1Remained the same 49.0Partly increased 7.7Significantly increased 3.2Do not know / no answer 9.2

Decreased 30.9%

Increased10.9%

● As compared to the 2009 findings, one in two respondents believe that the level of corruption remained the same.

● There is a noticeable positive change in the opinion of respondents regarding the presence of corruption (30.9% that it has reduced, and 10.9% that it has increased).

Reporting corruption (1)

● Around 65% of respondents state they are familiar with the ways of reporting corruption.

● The respondents identify DACI and Police Directorate as the institutions where corruption may be reported via mail/telephone/fax/e-mail.

Are you familiar with the ways of reporting corruption?

Reporting corruption (2)

● As was the case last year, citizens learned most about ways of reporting corruption on TV, much less in other media.

● Around 74% respondents, almost the same share as in 2009, state there was no need to report corruption.

● Police Directorate, DACI and Prosecution Office are recognised as institutions to which respondents would report corruption.

● Compared to 2009, there is a significant increase in the number of respondents who would report corruption to the Prosecution.

How have you learnt about the ways of reporting corruption?

In the event of reporting corruption, who would you turn to, who enjoys your trust?

N= 703 (99,8%) N= 1088 (99,4%)

Reporting corruption (3)Were you in a position to choose the way to report corruption, which would you choose?

N= 1095 (99,7%)

● Citizens feel most comfortable reporting corruption over the phone or in direct contact.

Level of informationHow well are you informed of the problem of corruption, the legal protection, institutions responsible

for preventing and sanctioning corruption?

● Two thirds of citizens are partially informed of the problem of corruption, which is at the same level as in 2009. Nevertheless, there is a noticeable increase in the level of knowledge and information about this problem and the ways to combat it.

N= 1095 (99,7%)

Anticorruption impactHow successful have the effort of

responsible authorities been in suppressing corruption so far?

What do you expect for the improvement of the current situation regarding anticorruption in Montenegro?N= 1095 (99,7%)

● 52.4% of respondents assess positively the anticorruption efforts so far, which is at the level of 2009 findings.

● Over the coming period responsible authorities are expected to increase the number of enforceable judgements and reports of corruption.

III RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations● Continue with current education and prevention activities

aimed at raising public awareness regarding the damages caused by corruption.

● Insist on the accountability of all who take part in corruptive actions, regardless who initiates it.

● Through media campaigns, continue with public information regarding ways of reporting corruption to competent authorities in order to further encourage citizens to oppose corruption.

● Increase the trust of citizens that responsible authorities will act upon reports of corruption. Greater level of trust will cause to have more reports of corruption.

● Low salaries of public servants at the state and the local level must not be a justification for corruption.