Getting hold of her by phone or during her free time is almost impossible. Lucia Kurilovská, a Slovak lawyer and state secretary at the Ministry of the Interior, starts her workday early in the morning and finishes late in the evening. She deals with crime – currently focusing on cyberbullying – educates herself and professionals in related fields, oversees the mountain rescue service and firefighters, and also teaches at the university. And that’s undoubtedly not all. When she does have a rare moment off, she watches crime shows…
What goals did you set for yourself when you started as state secretary? And are you managing to achieve them?
It was, and still is, crime prevention. I wanted to create a criminology institute – which we did – and now we’re in the process of filling positions, planning cooperation with individual faculties, and preparing various legislative adjustments. I also took over the mountain rescue service, where I’m focusing on volunteer training and preparing an amendment to the Mountain Rescue Act, which is currently in the consultation phase. Another goal was to connect the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Special Police Unit in the area of human trafficking, to support volunteer fire brigades, and to push for legislative changes based on feedback directly from firefighters. There’s also the effort to improve public order through legislative support for municipal police departments.
What do you see as the most serious current problem in the field of crime?
Cybercrime. We’re facing attacks from those targeting so-called soft targets – places with high concentrations of people but low levels of protection against violent attacks. These include various explosive device hoaxes at primary and secondary schools, universities, and similar institutions. We must actively combat these cyber threats. They’re also shifting into the virtual realm – extremist threats or bullying within youth communities, where unfortunately we’re seeing rising numbers. It’s often hidden, happening quietly among students, and teachers often don’t recognize or identify it.
You’re one of the first European countries to ban mobile phones in schools. Do you believe this helps reduce the risk of such acts?
After professional discussions with child psychologists, sociologists, and teachers, it became clear that mobile phones not only disrupt teaching but significantly contribute to children’s and teens’ psychological distress. So yes, I’m convinced it’s a step toward reducing these risks.
You’re involved in several Czech-Slovak cooperation projects. Which one has pleased you the most recently?
I recently attended a large congress where representatives from Slovak and Czech fire brigades shared their experiences. I’ve been interested in this field for quite a while, and I’m happy that the cooperation is successful and of a high standard. The same goes for the mountain rescue service or cyberbullying – there too, we’re actively exchanging knowledge and information. We recently held a Slovak-Czech seminar on the protection of soft targets.
You sometimes receive unpleasant comments from people on your Facebook profile. How do you deal with them – do you delete them?
They don’t sit well with me. I take them personally and try to filter them a bit. I also spend a lot of time thinking about who these people are and why they feel the need to communicate this way. If it’s a constructive opinion, of course I welcome it. Fortunately, there are more positive comments, and I’m also pleased by many kind reactions during personal meetings or public appearances. And I’m grateful for that.
You work in a field that is predominantly male. How do you feel among the men as a woman? Do they ever show distrust?
I’ve been in this sector for quite a while. So I don’t really notice signs of distrust – or I just don’t let them in. I actually get subtle feedback from police officers or firefighters, or members of the police academy. I probably feel the dominance of the male world most strongly when I’m involved in activities that are more political – that’s where it’s most apparent. But I can defend my position! By the way, while we’re on this topic – I’ve noticed growing interest among girls in studying at the police academy in recent years.
That’s an interesting observation.
It is. In one class, the Police Academy even had more girls than boys. A certain unnamed politician commented, “That’s terrible!” Then he turned to me and said, “You’re the reason – you’re their role model, they’re following you.” I don’t think he meant it as a compliment… but I took it as one.
Clearly, some men have a hard time with that. Why do you think women’s interest in this field is increasing?
Police work has its appealing aspects. Besides, women are very often excellent investigators – they’re observant and great psychologists. In fact, they often perform better in entrance exams. Sometimes even in physical tests, such as martial arts.
Your work schedule is extremely demanding. Do you have any time left for your private life?
Not much, to be honest. But I live with my daughter, who’s 26, works at the Ministry of Education, and is very capable and independent. Thanks to that, I can devote more time to work and projects that fulfill me. When someone asks how I’m doing, I reply with “Fine – I'm working.” In addition to my work as state secretary, I still teach – I’ve been at the Faculty of Law at Comenius University in Bratislava for over thirty years. And I really enjoy it.
So when you get together with your daughter in the evening, I suppose you don't talk about the weather or cake recipes…
Our conversations are pretty focused – mostly work-related. But to be fair, we’re both interested in fashion, and we sometimes borrow or even share some clothes. We enjoy visiting my designer friend to see what new things she has, and we grab a coffee. Fashion is a kind of little mental reset for me.
Besides fashion, where do you recharge?
Through sports or reading. Or by watching movies or TV shows.
I’m almost afraid to ask – are they crime shows?
Of course they are. I stick to the same theme. I like the Czech series Specialists. And I enjoy the Slovak author Dominik Dán – among other things, the series Crime Squad: Old Town is based on his books.
And your all-time favorite detective?
Poirot! Definitely. Agatha Christie was a genius – especially in the way she told stories and wove plotlines together so cleverly. And her descriptions of settings! In the filmed versions of her stories, I’m enchanted by the elegant retro mood of 1930s interiors and exteriors. That really brings me joy.
The author is an editor of Deník
CV BOX
Lucia Kurilovská (born December 21, 1967, in Poprad) is the First State Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic and a professor specializing in criminal law.
She graduated from the Faculty of Law at Comenius University in Bratislava, where she still teaches at the Department of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Criminalistics.
She has served, among other roles, as Director General of the Criminal Law Section at the Ministry of the Interior, advisor to the Minister of Justice, and Rector of the Police Academy.
In 2023, she was elected to the National Council for HLAS-SD, though she does not exercise the mandate due to her current post at the Slovak MoI.
She is divorced and has a daughter. Her hobbies include sports, strolling through historic streets, reading, and fashion.
