Law enforcement in Albania is the responsibility of several agencies. The responsibility for most tasks lies with theAlbanian State Police, a national police agency, which is under the authority ofMinistry of Interior. Examples of other agencies with limited policing powers are theMunicipal Police, which has administrative functions and operates in the local level. They are controlled by mayors.
TheAlbanian State Police is subordinate to theMinistry of Interior and it is organized by theGeneral Directorate of State Police. It is divided into several departments, which the function of each police department is to maintain general law and order, prevent crime, investigate crime and other events that threaten public order and safety, carry out traffic control and surveillance, and promote traffic safety.[1]
Some of the main police departments are:
TheSecurity Academy (Akademia e Sigurisë) is the national university-level unit responsible for general police training, research and development.[2]
TheRepublican Guard (Garda e Republikës) is a structure of special status under the authority of theMinistry of Interior, which has the mission ofsafeguarding and protecting the high-state personalities and residences, such as thePresident;Prime Minister;Chairman of the Parliament and others personalities defined by theLaw No.8869, dated 22 May 2003 "For the Guard of the Republic of Albania".[3][4]
TheInternal Affairs and Complaints Service (Shërbimi i Çështjeve të Brendshme dhe Ankesave, SHÇBA) it is anAlbanianlaw-enforcement agency under theMinistry of Interior, which investigates incidents and possible suspicions oflaw-breaking and professionalmisconduct attributed toPolice officers,Republican Guards andFirefighter officers in theRepublic of Albania. The SHÇBA can also refer the cases of misconduct and criminal behavior involving abovementioned employees, such as corruption acts, suspected links with crime and favoring of one side in conflicts. They also are responsible for the investigation of the unjustified wealth of officers on the basis of complaints and reports.[5][6]
The SHÇBA employees have the attributes of a policeman and ajudiciary Police agent, according to thelaw "On Judiciary Police", hold police ranks and have the status of an employee of theState Police.
TheAlbanian Coast Guard (Roja Bregdetare) is one of the specialized bodies of theAlbanian Navy which is responsible forsafeguarding human life and coordinatingsearch and rescue at sea, as well as administrative management, navigation security andterritorial waters, withcoastal guard functions. Among the competences are thesafeguarding of human life at sea, the safety of navigation and maritime transport, as well as the protection of the marine environment, its ecosystems and the oversight of the entire marine fishing industry, the protection of resources to that of the final consumer. The latter include inspections on merchant naval, fishing and recreational vessels, also conducted on foreign merchant ships that climb domestic ports.[7]
TheAlbanian Military Police orMP (Policia Ushtarake, PU) is aprovost branch of theAlbanian Armed Forces responsible for the policing of service personnel, and for providing amilitary police presence both in Albania and while service personnel are deployed overseas on operations and exercises. The PU it is under the authority ofMinistry of Defence.[8][9]
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The PU tasks include:
TheIntelligence and Security Agency (Agjencia e Inteligjencës dhe Sigurisë së Mbrojtjes, AISM) is anAlbanian governmentmilitaryintelligence agency responsible forstrategic intelligence andtechnical intelligence assessments, advising defence and government decision-making onnational security and international security issues, and the planning and conduct ofAlbanian Armed Forces operations. AISM is under the authority of theMinistry of Defense and it is one of two Albanian intelligence services, together with the civilian AlbanianState Intelligence Service.[10][11]
TheAlbanian State Intelligence Service (Shërbimi Informativ Shtetëror, SHISH) is the primaryintelligence agency ofAlbania and provides the necessary information from disclosure andcounter-intelligence on national security issues. It is specialized in the prevention of security threats that come from within the state or not. The agency it is under the authority ofPrime Minister's Office.[12]
TheAlbanian Prisons Police (Policia e Burgjeve) is an attached agency of theGeneral Directorate of Prisons ofAlbania, under the authority ofMinistry of Justice, which operate the Albanianprison system ascorrections officers. The police is responsible for the supervision, safety, and security of prisoners in a prison, jail, or similar form of secure custody.
It ensures the security of Albanian prisons, keeping unauthorized people out and preventing escape by prisoners. It also maintains order inside prisons, handles the transportation of inmates to and from prison and to court or medical appointments, and manages work and education programs for inmates.[13]
TheForestry Police (Policia Pyjore) it is alaw enforcement agency under the authority of theMinistry of Environment. The body specialized in defendingAlbanianagroforestry heritage,safeguarding the environment and landscape. It complied with the fulfillment of security services as well as the control of the territory, with particular reference torural andmountainous areas. The Forestry Police inspectors during the execution of the service, have the same status as theState Police andJudiciary Police.[14]
The Forestry Police have as primary role to safeguarding the wooded areas, but also have other numerous and varied institutional tasks, which is part of a wider context of protection of the environment and the territory, human health,animal protection,flora and landscaping, conservationbiodiversity. It is also charged to protect theAlbanian National Parks;marine protected areas andprotected areas.[15]
Some of important duties of the Forestry Police are:
TheMunicipal Police (Policia Bashkiake) arelaw enforcement agencies that are under the control oflocal government. It is an unarmed force and have fewer powers than theAlbanian State Police, such asarresting,criminal cases investigation or other duties which are not the exclusive power of other law enforcement forces. The Municipality Police powers are defined byLaw No. 8224, dated 15 May 1997 and they can only exercise them in theirown municipality. They have jurisdiction overmisdemeanors, supervise and protect the safety of citizens and property, assist and cooperate with the State Police inpublic order,road safety and so on.[16][17]
Each local police chief is responsible for the execution of local law enforcement policy and ensures the management, organization and distribution of missions in the local police force. She or he works under the authority of the mayor.[18]
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