Police of North Macedonia
Полиција (Macedonian)
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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 Shepherd
Notables
Anniversary
  • May 7th
Award
  • Hungary Constantinus 2013 Silver Medal[3]
Website
www.mvr.gov.mk

Law enforcement in North Macedonia is the responsibility of the Police of the Republic of North Macedonia (Macedonian: Полиција на Република Северна Македонија).[4]

The 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 insurgencies 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]

A Notable Incident was when the Macedonian Police arrested a Horse in 2009 used by a crime smuggling ring to smuggle Air conditioners from Serbia. At that time the Police were not sure whether to press charges or not, but ultimately decided to not press charges against the Horse.[15]

On the 2nd of December, 2022, during a routine traffic stop, а driver was asked to show his documents, to which the driver didn't comply and proceeded to call an Armed group. Said group proceeded to chase the Police officers out of Aračinovo and into the Gazi Baba police station.[16][17][18]

Organization

Special Police

Former

Equipment

Vehicles

Vehicle Photo Origin Users Use Notes
Light Vehicles
Chevrolet Spark South KoreaRegular and Traffic PolicePatrolling and Transport[1]
Dacia Duster RomaniaForest and Border PolicePatrolling and TransportDue to a lack of Vehicles, the Police of North Macedonia has begun using Border Police vehicles as regular Police vehicles.
Land Rover Defender 110 United KingdomRegular, Special and Border PolicePatrolling, Transport and SurveillanceThe Border Police uses a modified Land Rover fitted with Cameras designed to monitor certain areas to prevent illegal crossings etc.
Škoda Octavia Czech RepublicRegular and Traffic PolicePatrolling and Transport
Dacia Sandero RomaniaTraffic Police[19]Patrolling and TransportTen in Service.
Škoda Yeti Czech RepublicRegular and Traffic PolicePatrolling and TransportThe vehicle is used by all police offices, stations, departments in North Macedonia and is its most recognizable vehicle. There is another version of the vehicle that is used as a lead vehicle in traffic and escort security (CEO) of VIPs, officials etc. The only difference in appearance are the police lights which appear in blue and red instead of the usual blue.[20]
BMW (E46) GermanyRegular and Traffic PolicePatrolling and TransportLimited Use by certain departments [21]
Volkswagen Transporter GermanyRegular and Special PolicePatrolling and TransportThe vehicle used by the regular police, unlike the original, is fitted with a high roof. This van, without markings and without an upgraded roof, is also used by the special police. In 2014, a project for mobile police stations was promoted in the area of Skopje and this van was chosen to be the main vehicle used in this project.[22]
Ssangyong Rexton South KoreaBorder PolicePatrolling and TransportDue to a lack of Vehicles, the Police of North Macedonia has begun using Border Police vehicles as regular Police vehicles.
Dacia Dokker Romania
 France		Patrolling and Transport
Helicopters
Bell 206B-2 United States
 Canada		Helicopter UnitPatrolling and TransportOne in Service.
Bell AB 212 United States
 Canada		Helicopter UnitPatrolling and TransportOne in Service.
Bell 412EP United States
 Canada		Helicopter UnitPatrolling and TransportOne in Service.
Mil Mi-171 Soviet Union
 Russia		Helicopter UnitPatrolling and TransportOne in Service.
Mil Mi-17V-5 Soviet Union
 Russia		Helicopter UnitPatrolling and TransportThree in Service.
Motorcycles
Honda ST1300 Pan-European JapanTraffic PoliceCEO TransportUsed by the Department for Vanguard, Traffic and Escort Security (CEO) in its activities, including the escort of VIPs, officials, etc.[20]
Sanyang SYM HD2 200i TaiwanTraffic PoliceCEO TransportUsed by the Department for Vanguard, Traffic and Escort Security (CEO) in its activities, including the escort of VIPs, officials, etc.[20]
Piaggio Beverly ItalyTraffic PoliceCEO Transport120cc version is used[2]
Armored Vehicles
TM-170 GermanySpecial PoliceTransportKnown as the "Hermelin" (Stoat/Ermine in English). Used by the Special Operations Unit and the Rapid Deployment Unit.
BTR-80 Soviet Union
 Russia		Special PoliceTransportUsed by the Special Operations Unit and the Rapid Deployment Unit.
Wolf Armoured Vehicle IsraelSpecial PoliceTransportUsed by the Special Operations Unit and the Rapid Deployment Unit.
TOMA TurkeySpecial PoliceUnknown

Former Vehicles

Vehicle Photo Origin Users Use Notes
Chrysler Cirrus United StatesRegular PolicePatrolling and Transport210 were purchased in 2000 and used into the 2010s, averaging more than 500,000 kilometres (310,000 mi) traveled each.[23][24][25][26]
Jeep Cherokee United StatesRegular PolicePatrolling and Transport
Mercedes-Benz W124 GermanyRegular PolicePatrolling and Transport
Volkswagen Polo Mk3 GermanyRegular PolicePatrolling and Transport

Dogs

Breed Photo Origin Users Notes
German Shepherd GermanyK9 Unit

Small Arms

Name Photo Type Origin Notes
Pistols
Zastava CZ 99Pistol Yugoslavia
 Serbia		9×19mm

Standard issued pistol of the police.

Glock17Pistol Austria 9x19mm

Used by the Special Operations Unit.

Submachine guns
H&K MP5Submachine gun Germany9×19mm

Used by the Special Operations Unit.

Assault Rifles
Zastava M70Assault rifle Yugoslavia
 North Macedonia
 Serbia		7.62×39mm

Used for special situations such as armed conflict, but can also be used daily by police station guards.

AR-M1Assault rifle Bulgaria7.62×39mm and 5.56×45mm

Used by the Rapid Deployment Unit.

IWI TavorBullpup Assault Rifle Israel5.56×45mm

Used by the Rapid Deployment Unit.

IWI Tavor X95Bullpup Assault Rifle Israel5.56×45mm

Used by the Special Operations Unit.

Zastava M92Assault rifle Yugoslavia
 Serbia		7.62×39mm

Used by the Rapid Deployment Unit.

Sniper Rifles
Zastava M76Sniper rifle Yugoslavia
 Serbia		7.92×57mm

Used by the Rapid Deployment Unit.

Zastava M93Sniper rifle Serbia12.7×108mm

Used by the Rapid Deployment Unit.

Sako TRG-42Sniper rifle Finland12.7×57mm

Used by the Rapid Deployment Unit.

McMillan TAC-50Sniper rifle United States.50 BMG

Used by the Rapid Deployment Unit.

AI-AXMCSniper rifle United Kingdom7.62×51mm, .338 Lapua Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum

Used by the Special Operations Unit.

SVD DragunovSniper rifle Soviet Union
 Russia		7.62×54mm

Used by the Rapid Deployment Unit.

Machine guns
PKMMachine gun Soviet Union
 Russia		7.62×54mm

Used by the Rapid Deployment Unit.

Zastava M84Machine gun Yugoslavia
 Serbia		7.62×54mm

Used by the Rapid Deployment Unit.

IWI NegevMachine gun Israel5.56×45mm

Used by the Special Operations Unit.

See also

Military Service for Security and Intelligence-G2 Military intelligence agency

References

  1. 1 2 "Промовирани новите полициски возила (галерија)". Archived from the original on 2013-09-30. Retrieved 2015-04-29. (Macedonian)
  2. 1 2 "Македонската полиција доби нови скутери Sym HD2 200i". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-04-29. (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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 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. ↑ Insight, Balkan (12 January 2009). "Macedonia Police Arrests Smuggling Horse".
  16. ↑ "Armed group in Arachinovo chased away the police because they stopped a person who was driving a vehicle without valid documents?!".
  17. ↑ "Стоилковски: Тежок скандал - Криминалци избркале полицајци од полициска станица во Арачиново".
  18. ↑ "Стоилковски: Тежок скандал- Криминалци избркале полицајци од полициска станица во Арачиново, Спасовски оставка веднаш".
  19. ↑ "Предадени 10 возила за потребите на сообраќајната полиција од страна на РСБСП". 2022.
  20. 1 2 3 YouTube: "Полициско одделение за сообраќајно и ескортно обезбедување".
  21. ↑ press, gostivar (3 July 2022). "Лудувал со автомобил на улица во Гостивар, завршил во полиција". gostivarpress.mk.
  22. ↑ https://republika.mk/273681%5B%5D
  23. ↑ "Picture". 2001. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  24. ↑ "Macedonia's Trademark Police Cars Drive into History". 30 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-11-07.
  25. ↑ "Archived copy". fh1w93s8iw-flywheel.netdna-ssl.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  26. ↑ Brendan Saur (February 6, 2019). "Curbside Classic: 1999 Chrysler Cirrus LXi – Remember when Chrysler Showed Hope?". Curbside Classics. Archived from the original on 2019-02-08.
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