Police of the Czech Republic
| Police of the Czech Republic Policie České republiky | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | PČR |
| Motto |
Pomáhat a chránit (Czech) "To Help and to Protect" |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1991 |
| Preceding agency | |
| Employees | 40,152[1] |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Czech Republic |
 | |
| Map of Police of the Czech Republic's jurisdiction. | |
| Governing body | Ministry of the Interior (Czech Republic) |
| Headquarters | Presidium of Police, Prague |
|
| |
| Agency executive |
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| Website | |
| http://www.policie.cz/ | |
Police of the Czech Republic (Czech: Policie České republiky) is the national law enforcement agency of the Czech Republic. It was established on 15 July, 1991, with headquarters in Prague. Their mission is protect citizens, property and public order and as of 2015, there were around 40,500 employees.[3] Czech state police cooperates with municipal police departments, which are present in local municipalities.
History
The Police of the Czech Republic took over land management after the communist SNB in the Czech Republic with the exception of military police (provosts) who are part of the army. Members were recruited from the former communist SNB (National Security Corps), after passing a vetting "democratic" commission established after the Velvet Revolution in 1989 to eliminate from the police force communist ideologues and agents of the secret police. A similar procedure was also undertaken in the then-Slovak Republic. Some police officers were employed by a small federal police force, whose mandate expired on 31 December 1992.
Jurisdiction
The Police of the Czech Republic has general jurisdiction in the investigation of misdemeanors and crimes. Its proceedings are overseen by an independent prosecutor, who can bring charges in criminal matters. It does not have jurisdiction in fields falling within the competence of other specialized bodies, such as the Customs service, military police, judicial guard or the Secret service. PČR is the main investigative body of the Ministry of the Interior. It should not be confused with the municipal police, which may be established by a municipality and which supervises public order and road safety; municipal police also have jurisdiction only over misdemeanours, and in criminal investigations may serve only in a supportive role for the state police.
The Police of the Czech Republic is responsible for search and rescue operations and on this behalf cooperates with Mountain Rescue Service of the Czech Republic that is highly professional rescue agency.
Some crimes (such as terrorism) are being solved in co-operation with intelligence agencies such as BIS or ÚZSI.
Nationwide jurisdiction
- Prague Institute of Criminology
- Aviation Service
- National Central for Organized Crime (of the Service of Criminal Police and Investigation) - created in August 2016 by joining two nationwide operating units:
- Unit for Organized Crime (of the Service of Criminal Police and Investigation)
- Unit for Corruption and Financial Criminality (of the Service of Criminal Police and Investigation)
- National Anti-Drug Central (of the Service of Criminal Police and Investigation)
- Pyrotechnical Service
- Service of Alien and Border Police
- Unit for Documentation and Investigation of Communist Crimes (of the Service of Criminal Police and Investigation)
- Unit for Protection of the President of the Czech Republic
- Unit for Protection of State Officials
- Unit for Special Activities (of the Service of Criminal Police and Investigation)
- Unit for Particular Activities (of the Service of Criminal Police and Investigation)
- Rapid Response Unit
Regional jurisdiction
There are 14 regional headquarters, with jurisdictions covering the regions of the Czech Republic.
Police officers serving under regional HQs are usually organized in the following sections:[4]
- Public Order Police Service (Služba pořádkové policie) - most versatile, police officers on general patrolling duty serving at local and district police stations, most usually first responders. Squad cars usually manned by two officers, apart from pistols usually with at least one select-fire rifle stored in safe of car's trunk.
- Public Order Units - perform specific tasks in the area of protecting people and property, special equipment and training, most often dispatched in large numbers (riot gear for crowd control, assault rifles for active shooter engagement, etc.). Squad minivans usually with seven heavily armed policemen.
- Intervention Units - regional SWAT teams (8 teams covering 14 regions). Apart from cars equipped also with transport helicopters.
- Rapid Response Units - these units reinforce the public order units on patrolling duty in selected areas of the country. Squad cars usually with three heavily armed policemen.
- Waterway Units
- Railway Units - in train stations of major railway hubs, also operate in trains (catching thieves, looters)
- Police Divers
- Cynology Service - training of dogs and dog handlers, about 800 dogs are in active service with the Czech Police (K9 officers themselves are part of the above mentioned units)
- Hippology Service - training of horses and mounted policemen mainly for patrolling in natural reserve areas and for riot duty (mounted policemen themselves are part of the above-mentioned units)
- Weapons and Security Material Service - deals with civilian firearms ownership and issuing of gun licenses, business with military equipment, explosives, gun ranges etc.
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service - apart from disposing of explosive materials also provides expert opinions in the field of forensic pyrotechnics
- Service of Criminal Police and Investigation - usually divided into:
- White Collar Crime Division (Operative Search, Investigation)
- Division of Analytics (analytics for other two divisions, cybercrime)
- General Crime Division (Operative Search, Investigation) - usually divided into sections (according of size of department):
- Section - Homicides, violent crimes, suicides
- Section - Roberries, extortions/blackmail
- Section - Sexual and/or Youth related crime, rape, prostitution
- Section - Vehicle thefts
- Section - Thefts, property related crime
- Section - Search for people and things
- Section - Pernament crime scene response unit
- Section - Drug related crime
- Section - Extremism, racially motivated crime, hoolingans
- Forensic Laboratories and Expertise Service
Special units
Equipment
As of 2011, the Police of the Czech Republic employs about 41,000 officers, with a ratio of about 45 officers per 10,000 population.[5] Of these, about 3,500 are traffic-police officers.[6]
Transport
Cars and motorcycles
- Typical patrol cars: Škoda Octavia mk2 & mk3 1.2 (81 kW) & 1.6 (75 kW) & 1.8 (118 kW, 132 kW), Hyundai Tucson 1.6 (130 kW)
- Typical offroad cars: Škoda Yeti, Volkswagen Amarok, Mitsubishi Outlander, Land Rover Discovery, Ford Ranger
- Typical traffic police vehicles: Škoda Octavia RS 2.0 (147 kW), Škoda Superb mk2 3.6 (191 kW) & mk3 2.0 (206 kW), Volkswagen Passat VR6 3.6 (221 kW), VW Transporter Yamaha motorcycles (600 and 1300 ccm)
- Other:
- VW Transporter T4 & T5 as minivans, mobile offices
- VW Crafter, Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter as minivans, vans
- Tatra trucks for special purposes
- Iveco buses
Helicopters
| Aircraft[7] | Origin | Role | Versions | Registration | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell 412 |  |
VIP transport, transport of material, rescue operations, policing | Bell 412 HP | OK-BYN OK-BYQ |
2 |
| Bell 412 | |
Policing | Bell 412 EP | OK-BYP OK-BYR OK-BYS |
3 |
| Bell 412 | |
Policing | Bell 412 EPI[8] | OK-BYT | 1 |
| Eurocopter EC135 |  |
Policing, air rescue service | EC 135 T2, EC 135 T2+ | OK-BYA OK-BYB OK-BYC OK-BYD[9] OK-BYE OK-BYF OK-BYG OK-BYH |
8 |
Firearms
The following firearms are used by the Police of the Czech Republic:
Handguns
- CZ-75
- CZ SP-01
- CZ 75D PCR Compact
- CZ P-01
- CZ 2075 RAMI
- CZ P-07 Duty
- CZ 97B
- Glock 17
Submachine guns
Carbines
- Sa vz. 58 (phased out)
- Heckler & Koch G36
Sniper rifles
- CZ 700 (phased out)
- CZ 750
- Heckler Koch HK 417 (.308 Win)
- Accuracy International Arctic Warfare
- Accuracy International AW50 (.50 BMG)
- SAKO TRG 42
- Sig Sauer SSG 300[11]
See also
References
- ↑ http://www.policie.cz/clanek/pocet-prislusniku-policie-ceske-republiky.aspx
- ↑ "President of Police of the Czech republic". Policie ČR (in Czech). Police of the Czech republic. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ↑ "Chovanec chce na policejní nábor přes deset miliard, Babiš není proti". ČT24 (in Czech). ČT24. 14 May 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- ↑ http://www.policie.cz/publikace/Publikace_Policie.html
- ↑ "John: Počet policistů by měl nadále klesat". České noviny. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
- ↑ "Ekonomická efektivnost - dopravní přestupky". policie.cz. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
- ↑ "Letecká služba Policie ČR". vrtulnik.cz. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
- ↑ "Bell Helicopter sells first Bell 412EPI in Europe to Czech Police". Textron. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ↑ Helicopter crashed on March 5, 2011, see planes.cz spotters
- ↑ http://www.streleckarevue.cz/archiv-detail.aspx/2014/upload/vyslo7_2014/46_sluzebni_zbrane.pdf
- ↑ http://www.novinky.cz/domaci/243793-elitni-odstrelovaci-pali-uz-na-dvojku.html
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