Law enforcement in the Republic of Macedonia

Macedonian Police
Полиција

Patch of the Macedonian Police
Agency overview
Formed 1992
Legal personality Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
National agency Republic of Macedonia
Primary governing body Government of Macedonia
Secondary governing body Ministry of Internal Affairs (Macedonia)
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters Skopje
Minister responsible Oliver Spasovski, Minister of Internal Affairs
Agency executive Violeta Jankovska, State Secretary of the MIA
Parent agency Government of Macedonia
Child agency Administration for Security and Counterintelligence
Facilities
Stations Skopje, Kumanovo, Shtip, Strumica, Bitola, Ohrid and Tetovo
Light Vehicles Chevrolet Spark 100[1]
Scoters Sym HD2 200i,
Piaggio Beverly 125[2]
Helicopters agusta AB206B-2 (1), agusta ab212 (1), bell 412ep (1), mil Mi-171 (1), mil Mi-17V-5 (1)
Dogs German Sheppard
Website
www.mvr.gov.mk

Law enforcement in the Republic of Macedonia is the responsibility of the Police of the Republic of Macedonia.

The Macedonian Police headquarters is located in Skopje at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and it also maintains an air base in nearby Idrizovo. Taiwan, Canada and Italy have all contributed Bell Helicopter Textron helicopters to the police force's Macedonian Police Aviation Unit in cooperation with the Macedonian Air Force to help combat insurgency in Northern Macedonia.[4]

The law enforcement agencies of Macedonia are regulated by the Macedonian Constitution of 1991, the Law on Internal Affairs of 1995, the Criminal Procedure Code of 1997 and the Draft Law on Changes and Additions to the Criminal Procedure Code.[5] With police actions and behaviour controlled by the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Law on Internal Affairs controlling the use of firearms by the police force. On July 1, 2003 the Law on the Police Academy was enacted, creating the Republic of Macedonia premiere police academy to train civil and border police officers.[6]

The force has been the subject of a number of recent reforms regarding both the Albanian insurgency,[7] and possible violations of human rights,[8][9] with NATO officials stating that the force was "not really up to European standards"[10][11]

The ethnic Albanian population

The Police of the Republic of Macedonia work closely with the NATO peacekeepers in patrolling areas with high numbers of ethnic Albanians ever since the 2001 Macedonia conflict ended, and have been receiving weapons from surrendering Albanian insurgents.[7] Violent attacks, however, still occur as in 2001 three officers were killed by Albanian gunmen.[12]

The Macedonian Police were also subject to scrutiny during Albanian riots on 9 July 1997 when protesters collected in the western town of Gostivar. Over 200 were wounded and three killed (two shot, one beaten to death)[11] in a resulting clash with police riot squads, and the Humans Rights Watch investigated allegations of police brutality.[11] These events underlined a continuing friction between the Macedonian Police force and Albanians living in the Republic of Macedonia.[11] The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights reported that police abuse of suspects, particularly during initial arrest and detention, and police harassment of ethnic minorities is ongoing.[13]

Organization

Special Police

Former

See also

Military Service for Security and Intelligence-G2 Military intelligence agency

References

  1. ↑ (Macedonian)
  2. ↑ (Macedonian)
  3. ↑ (English)
  4. ↑ Aeroflight page on the Macedonian Police Aviation Unit, retrieved on May 14, 2007
  5. ↑ Legislation Online article retrieved on May 14, 2007
  6. ↑ Republic of Macedonia Police Academy website retrieved on May 14, 2007
  7. 1 2 BBC News article retrieved on May 14, 2007
  8. ↑ Human rights News article retrieved on May 14, 2007
  9. ↑ Amnesty International article retrieved on May 14, 2007
  10. ↑ The Guardian article retrieved on May 14, 2007
  11. 1 2 3 4 MACEDONIA Police Violence in Macedonia Human Rights Watch report retrieved on May 14, 2007
  12. ↑ BBC News article retrieved on May 14, 2007
  13. ↑ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005 (MHC)
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