National Police (Liechtenstein) Explained

Agencyname:National Police
Commonname:Landespolizei
Abbreviation:LNPS
Country:Liechtenstein
Motto:Für Gott, Fürst, und Vaterland
Mottotranslated:For God, Prince, and Fatherland
Formedyear:1933
Employees:125 (2011)[1]
Divtype:Administrative divisions
Map:Liechtenstein - Gemeinden mit Exklaven.png
Governingbody:Office of Civil Protection
Constitution1:Constitution of Liechtenstein
Sizearea:160 km2
Sizepopulation:36,000
Police:Yes
National:Yes
Local:No
Headquarters:Vaduz
Sworn:125
Unsworn:38 (Security Corps)
Minister1name:Dominique Hasler, Minister
Chief1name:Jules S. Hoch, Chief of Police
Officetype:Division
Stationtype:Headquarters
Stations:Vaduz
Vehicles1:45
Vehicle1type:Vehicle
Boat1type:Speedboat
Boats1:2
Aircraft1type:Helicopter
Aircraft1:1[2]

The National Police of the Principality of Liechtenstein (German: Landespolizei des Fürstentums Liechtenstein), is the national police force of Liechtenstein. It is composed of 125 employees, with 91 officers and 34 staff (excluding the Security Corps),[1] who police the doubly landlocked alpine state in Western-Central Europe.[3] Bordered by Switzerland to its west, and Austria to its east,[4] Liechtenstein maintains a trilateral treaty which enables close cross-border co-operation between the police services of the three states. Liechtenstein is also a member of Interpol, and a signatory to a variety of other treaties.[5] [6]

Crime

Liechtenstein has a significantly low crime rate Crime has always been low since the mid-1970s when Liechtenstein started to prosper as a nation.[7] According to an International Special Reports study, the average Liechtenstein resident doesn't even lock their door.[8] Liechtenstein jails hold very few, if any, inmates, with sentences over two years being transferred to Austria.[6] [8] However, officers in the National Police have been armed since a shooting took place.[8] In 2003, Liechtenstein drafted 300 Swiss and Austrian police to assist security forces in the potential aftermath of a Liechtenstein victory over England, in a Euro Cup qualifying match, at Rheinpark Stadion.[9]

Structure

The National Police are divided into three divisions, and two independently operated subdivisions:[10] [11]

Security

Law enforcement in Liechtenstein is handled solely by the National Police,[16] although a paramilitary force is maintained inside the police body.[13] [14] Liechtenstein follows a policy of neutrality, and is one of few countries in the world that maintains no active military.[17] Liechtenstein's Army was abolished in 1868, soon after the Austro-Prussian War in which Liechtenstein fielded an army of 80 men, although they were not involved in any fighting.[7] [16] However, Liechtenstein can reinstate its military if deemed necessary, although this is very unlikely.[18]

Swiss military

Switzerland has a relatively active military due to conscription. Some incursions into Liechtehstein's sovereign territory have occurred during routine training:

Policing treaties

Since 1933, the National Police have signed seven strategic treaties.[23]

Emergencies

The national emergency telephone number is 112, for police it is 117, for the Fire Brigade it is 118, for the Ambulance Service it is 144, and for the Rega it is 1414.[24] The Fire Brigade also operates a 30-man volunteer Mountain Rescue Service.[25] Officer uniforms are similar to that of the Swiss cantonal police, both in color, and design.[26]

Customs control

The Swiss border between Switzerland and Liechtenstein is open, but Swiss customs officers used to secure Liechtenstein's border with Austria.[27] [28] [29] Before December 2011, there were 21 Swiss, four Liechtenstein National Police and 28 Austria border guards, who secured the 11.6 km long Liechtenstein-Austria border, however, only 20 percent is passable.[30] Even though the National Police maintain a border unit, the Swiss border police are responsible for border protection of both countries according to a customs union adopted in 1924.

In February 2007, there were hundreds of people trying to seek asylum in Liechtenstein, mainly from countries such as Somalia and Eritrea. Due to the number of people attempting to cross the border, border guards were stationed on both the Liechtenstein-Swiss border and the Liechtenstein-Austria border, with the main objective of maintaining law and order for all Liechtensteiners.[31] This security measure lasted for about 90 days, with well over 800 people seeking asylum in Liechtenstein.[32] [31]

In December 2011, Liechtenstein became the fourth non-European Union country to join the Schengen Area after Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.[33] Under the agreement, Liechtenstein maintains an open border with both Switzerland and Austria, and resulted in the closure of several Liechtenstein-Austria border stations.[34] In addition, Balzers Heliport restricts all helicopters coming from non-Schengen countries, which in theory, limits security concerns.[35] However, Liechtenstein has strengthened its customs control by way of a high-tech video surveillance system (over 60 cameras costing $2.3 million) as well as regular mobile border patrol units.[31] [34]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annual Report 2011 > Total force – 85 officers, 6 cadets, and 34 civilian staff. Landespolizei. 2012-06-18.
  2. Web site: Markus Herzig. Swiss Helicopters – Current Fleetlist. Swissheli.com. 2012-06-18.
  3. Web site: Liechtenstein. OSCEpolis. 2012-06-18. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120401223738/http://polis.osce.org/countries/details?item_id=26. 1 April 2012.
  4. Web site: Geography.
  5. http://www.landespolizei.li/Portals/0/docs/pdf-Files/Imagebroschuere_LP_e_end.pdf Landespolizei facts and figures
  6. Web site: Comparative Criminology | Europe- Liechtenstein. Rohan.sdsu.edu. 2012-06-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20120208121854/http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/rwinslow/europe/liechtenstein.html. 8 February 2012. dead.
  7. Web site: CIA – The World Factbook . Cia.gov . 2012-06-18.
  8. Web site: Police are rarely seen in this peaceful Principality . International Special Reports . 2012-06-18.
  9. Web site: England . Liechtenstein fear security will not be sufficient . The Daily Telegraph. 2012-06-18.
  10. Web site: Landespolizei Structure. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130516220753/http://www.landespolizei.li/Portals/0/docs/pdf-Files/Imagebroschuere_LP_e_end.pdf. 16 May 2013.
  11. Web site: About Us > Home . Landespolizei.li . 2012-06-18.
  12. Web site: Traffic instructions by a young Liechtenstein police woman. Flickr. 8 March 2007.
  13. Web site: Security Corps.
  14. Web site: Annual Report 2011 > Total force – 85 officers, 6 cadets, 38 militiamen, and 34 civilian staff. Landespolizei . 2012-06-18.
  15. Web site: Liechtensteinische Landesverwaltung . Home – Amt für Bevölkerungsschutz . Llv.li . 2012-03-23 . 2012-06-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120505164706/http://www.llv.li/amtsstellen/llv-abs-home.htm . 5 May 2012 .
  16. Web site: Top 10 Countries Without Military Forces | Top 10 Lists . 20 May 2010 . TopTenz.net . 2012-06-18.
  17. Web site: Liechtenstein Military 2012, CIA World Factbook . Theodora.com . 2012-06-18.
  18. Web site: Frommelt . Fabian . Rupert . Quaderer . 31 December 2011 . Militär . 23 February 2024 . . de.
  19. Web site: Balzers. Arthur Brunhart /. VV. HLS-DHS-DSS.CH.
  20. Web site: Swiss Inform Liechtenstein of Error in Troop Maneuvers. The New York Times. 1992-10-18. 2009-11-27.
  21. News: Swiss in Liechtenstein 'invasion'. BBC News. 2007-03-03. 2007-03-03.
  22. Oups !
  23. Web site: Police Associations . Landespolizei . 2012-06-18.
  24. Web site: Landespolizei Liechtenstein > Notrufnummern . Landespolizei.li . 2012-06-18.
  25. Web site: Bergrettung . Bergrettung.li . 2012-06-18.
  26. Web site: Landespolizei > Das sind wir > Polizeimuseum. Landespolizei.li . 2012-06-18.
  27. Web site: WTO – Trade policy review – Switzerland and Liechtenstein 2000. wto.org.
  28. Web site: Relative Time . Border bridge: Liechtenstein and Switzerland | Sophie's World Travel . 24 September 2006 . Sophiesworld.net . 2012-06-18.
  29. Web site: Jan S. Krogh's Geosite: A-FL Boundary . Geosite.jankrogh.com . 2012-06-18.
  30. Web site: Schengen: Die letzten Tage der Grenzposten . 18 March 2008 . 2012-06-18.
  31. Web site: The United Nations in the Heart of Europe | | . unog.ch . 2 February 2022 . https://archive.today/20130115223726/http://www.unog.ch/unog/website/news_media.nsf/(httpNewsByYear_en)/503CDB599A0F5546C1257719003AE5D5 . 15 January 2013 . dead.
  32. Web site: Landespolizei News > Official site. Landespolizei.li. 2012-06-18. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120702104208/http://www.landespolizei.li/News/Pressemitteilungen.aspx. 2 July 2012.
  33. Web site: Liechtenstein Schengen membership lifts border controls with Switzerland.- swissinfo . Swissinfo.ch . 2012-06-18.
  34. Web site: Border controls with Liechtenstein to cost Switzerland millions.- swissinfo . Swissinfo.ch . 2008-09-26 . 2012-06-18.
  35. Web site: The Principality of Liechtenstein . Cyan.rrx.ca . 2012-06-18.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "National Police (Liechtenstein)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.