Police of North Macedonia

Law enforcement in North Macedonia is the responsibility of the Police of the Republic of North Macedonia (Macedonian: Полиција на Република Македонија, Policija na Republika Makedonija).[4]

Police of North Macedonia
Полиција
Agency overview
Formed1992
Jurisdictional structure
National agencyNorth Macedonia
Operations jurisdictionNorth Macedonia
Primary governing bodyGovernment of North Macedonia
Secondary governing bodyMinistry of Internal Affairs
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersSkopje
Minister responsible
Agency executive
  • Magdalena Nestorovska, State Secretary of the MIA
Parent agencyGovernment of North Macedonia
Child agency
Facilities
StationsSkopje, Kumanovo, Shtip, Strumica, Bitola, Ohrid, and Tetovo
Light VehiclesChevrolet Spark 100[1]
ScotersSym HD2 200i,
Piaggio Beverly 125[2]
Helicoptersagusta AB206B-2 (1), agusta ab212 (1), bell 412ep (1), mil Mi-171 (1), mil Mi-17V-5 (1)
DogsGerman Sheppard
Notables
Anniversary
  • May 7th
Award
  • Constantinus 2013 Silver Medal[3]
Website
www.mvr.gov.mk

Police headquarters are located in Skopje at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and also maintain 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 Air Force of North Macedonia to help combat insurgency the country.[5]

The law enforcement agencies of North Macedonia are regulated by the 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.[6] With police actions and behavior 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 a police academy to train civil and border police officers.[7]

The force has been the subject of a number of recent reforms regarding both the Albanian insurgency,[8] and possible violations of human rights,[9][10] with NATO officials stating that the force was "not really up to European standards" as policemen lacked in skills and weapons.[11][12]

History

The Police were 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)[12] in a resulting clash with police riot squads, and the Humans Rights Watch investigated allegations of police brutality.[12] These events underlined a continuing friction between the Macedonian Police force and Albanians living in North Macedonia.[12] 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]

The Police of North 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.[8] Violent attacks, however, still occur as in 2001 three officers were killed by Albanian gunmen.[14]

Organization

Special Police


Former

Ground vehicles
  • Pre-2019 licence plates of the Macedonian Police
  • Police in v.Radusha in 2001
  • Special units Tigers and Lions in 2001

See also
Military Service for Security and Intelligence-G2 Military intelligence agency

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-09-30. Retrieved 2015-04-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) (Macedonian)
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-04-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) (Macedonian)
  3. "ÜDVÖZÖLJÜK HONLAPUNKON".
  4. "МВР го промени името: Полиција на Република Северна Македонија".
  5. Aeroflight page Archived 2007-01-19 at the Wayback Machine on the Macedonian Police Aviation Unit, retrieved on May 14, 2007
  6. Legislation Online article Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine retrieved on May 14, 2007
  7. Republic of Macedonia Police Academy website Archived 2007-05-14 at the Wayback Machine retrieved on May 14, 2007
  8. BBC News article retrieved on May 14, 2007
  9. Human rights News article retrieved on May 14, 2007
  10. Amnesty International article retrieved on May 14, 2007
  11. The Guardian article retrieved on May 14, 2007
  12. MACEDONIA Police Violence in Macedonia Human Rights Watch report retrieved on May 14, 2007
  13. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005 (MHC) Archived 2007-03-11 at the Wayback Machine
  14. BBC News article retrieved on May 14, 2007
  15. "Picture". Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
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