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National Police (Liechtenstein)

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For the German Landespolizei, seeLandespolizei.

National Police
Landespolizei des Fürstentums Liechtenstein
Common nameLandespolizei
AbbreviationLNPS
MottoFür Gott, Fürst, und Vaterland
For God, Prince, and Fatherland
Agency overview
Formed1933
Employees125 (2011)[1]
Jurisdictional structure
National agencyLiechtenstein
Operations jurisdictionLiechtenstein
Administrative divisions of Liechtenstein
Size160 km2
Population36,000
Governing bodyOffice of Civil Protection
Constituting instrument
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersVaduz
Sworn members125
Unsworn members38 (Security Corps)
Elected officer responsible
Agency executive
Divisions
  • Security and Traffic Control,
    Criminal Investigation,
    Executive Support,
    Commissioner's Office,
    Security Corps
Facilities
HeadquartersVaduz
Vehicles45
Speedboats2
Helicopters1[2]
Website
www.landespolizei.li

TheNational Policeof the Principality of Liechtenstein (German:Landespolizei des Fürstentums Liechtenstein),[a]is the national police force ofLiechtenstein.It is composed of 125 employees, with 91 officers and 34 staff (excluding the Security Corps),[1]who police the 160 km2(62 sq mi)doubly landlockedalpine stateinWestern-Central Europe.[3]Bordered bySwitzerlandto its west, andAustriato 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 ofInterpol,and a signatory to a variety of othertreaties.[5][6]

Crime[edit]

Liechtenstein has a significantly lowcrime rate[7]Crime has always been low since the mid-1970s when Liechtenstein started to prosper as a nation.[8]According to anInternational Special Reportsstudy, the average Liechtenstein resident doesn't even lock their door.[9]Liechtenstein jails hold very few, if any, inmates, with sentences over two years being transferred to Austria.[6][9]However, officers in the National Police have been armed since a shooting took place.[when?][9]In 2003, Liechtenstein drafted 300 Swiss and Austrian police to assist security forces in the potential aftermath of aLiechtensteinvictory overEngland,in aEuro Cupqualifying match, atRheinpark Stadion.[10]

Structure[edit]

The National Police are divided into three divisions, and two independently operated subdivisions:[11][12]

  • Security and Traffic Control(64 officers; 5 civilian men and women); Administration Security and Traffic Unit, Security Unit, Traffic Unit, Traffic Engineering and Prevention Unit, Intervention Unit (police tactical unit),[b]Border Unit, Riot Police,[c]and Protection Unit.[d]
  • Criminal Investigation(16 officers; 10 civilian men and women); Administration Crime Investigation Division, Serious Crime Unit, Trace Unit, Financial Crime Unit, Forensic Unit, Crime Intelligence Unit. Officers are generally issued aSIG Sauerpistol, the standard issue being theSIG Sauer P226.[13]
  • Executive Support(7 officers; 15 civilian men and women); Chief of Staff,[e]Systems Organization and Quality Department, Logistics, Emergence Command and Dispatch, Information Technology, State Penitentiary, and Relations Unit.
  • Chief of Staff and Commissioner's Office(3 officers; 7 civilian men and women); Traffic and Administration Law Department, Legal Assistant, Commissioner's Office; Public Information Center, and Finance and Controlling.
  • Security Corps(38 militiamen)[14][15][16]The Security Corps are aparamilitary force,composed entirely of Liechtensteiners, who can be called upon in case of a natural disaster, or riot situation. The Corps also performs honorary roles such aschanging the guard,and presenting theCoat of Armsat official occasions. Differing from all other units (except for the Special Police Unit), the Corps are trained and equipped with weapons such asHeckler & Koch UMPsandHeckler & Koch MP5s.

Security[edit]

Law enforcement in Liechtenstein is handled solely by the National Police,[17]although a paramilitary force is maintained inside the police body.[14][15]Liechtenstein follows a policy ofneutrality,and isone of few countries in the worldthat maintains no active military.[18]Liechtenstein's Armywas abolished in 1868, soon after theAustro-Prussian Warin which Liechtenstein fielded an army of 80 men, although they were not involved in any fighting.[8][17]However, Liechtenstein can reinstate its military if deemed necessary, although this is very unlikely.[19]

Swiss military[edit]

Switzerlandhas a relatively active military due toconscription.Some incursions into Liechtehstein's sovereign territory have occurred during routine training:

  • On 5 December 1985, anRL-83 Blindicideantitank rocket fired by theSwiss Armed Forceslanded in territory inBalzersin Liechtenstein, causing a forest fire. Compensation was paid to the private owner.[20]
  • On 13 October 1992, following written orders, Swiss Army cadets unknowingly crossed the border and went toTriesenbergto set up an observation post. Swiss commanders had overlooked the fact that Triesenberg was not in Swiss territory. Switzerland apologized to Liechtenstein for the incident.[21]
  • On 3 March 2007, a company of 171 Swiss soldiers mistakenly entered Liechtenstein in bad weather at night, after taking a wrong turn in the darkness. The troops returned to Swiss territory before they travelled more than 2 km into the country. The Liechtenstein authorities did not discover the "invaders", and were informed by the Swiss after the incident. The incident was disregarded by both sides. A Liechtenstein spokesman said "It's not like they invaded with attack helicopters".[22][23]

Policing treaties[edit]

Since 1933, the National Police have signed sevenstrategic treaties.[24]

Emergencies[edit]

The nationalemergency telephone numberis112,for police it is117,for the Fire Brigade it is118,for the Ambulance Service it is144,and for theRegait is1414.[25]The Fire Brigade also operates a 30-man volunteer Mountain Rescue Service.[26]Officer uniforms are similar to that of theSwiss cantonal police,both in color, and design.[27]

Customs control[edit]

The Swiss border between Switzerland and Liechtenstein is open, butSwiss customs officersused to secure Liechtenstein's border with Austria.[28][29][30]Before December 2011, there were 21 Swiss, four Liechtenstein National Police and 28 Austriaborder guards,who secured the 11.6 km long Liechtenstein-Austria border, however, only 20 percent is passable.[31]Even though the National Police maintain a border unit, theSwiss border policeare responsible for border protection of both countries according to acustoms unionadopted in 1924.

In February 2007, there were hundreds of people trying to seekasylumin Liechtenstein, mainly from countries such asSomaliaandEritrea.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 allLiechtensteiners.[32]Thissecuritymeasure lasted for about 90 days, with well over 800 people seeking asylum in Liechtenstein.[33][32]

In December 2011, Liechtenstein became the fourth non-European Unioncountry to join theSchengen Areaafter Switzerland,NorwayandIceland.[34]Under the agreement, Liechtenstein maintains anopen borderwith both Switzerland and Austria, and resulted in the closure of several Liechtenstein-Austriaborder stations.[35]In addition,Balzers Heliportrestricts all helicopters coming from non-Schengen countries, which in theory, limits security concerns.[36]However, Liechtenstein has strengthened its customs control by way of ahigh-techvideo surveillance system(over 60 cameras costing$2.3 million) as well as regular mobileborder patrol units.[32][35]

Border gallery[edit]

  • Looking at an Austria border sign
    Looking at an Austria border sign
  • Looking into Austria from Liechtenstein, with a joint border station
    Looking into Austria from Liechtenstein, with a joint border station
  • Looking into Austria from Liechtenstein, with a joint border station
    Looking into Austria from Liechtenstein, with a joint border station
  • Looking from Switzerland to Liechtenstein, with no border controls
    Looking from Switzerland to Liechtenstein, with no border controls
  • Looking from Liechtenstein to Switzerland, with no border controls
    Looking from Liechtenstein to Switzerland, with no border controls
  • Looking at a pedestrian bridge crossing the Liechtensteiner-Swiss border
    Looking at a pedestrian bridge crossing the Liechtensteiner-Swiss border

Notes[edit]

  1. ^However, there are tenInterpoland twoEuropolagents stationed inVaduz.
  2. ^TheIntervention Unit,along with theSecurity Corpsis considered by some Liechtensteiners to be a military unit, due in part to its deployment ofbody armour,aBell UH-1helicopter, andautomatic weaponswhich includeHeckler & Koch UMPs,Heckler and Koch MP5s,andSIG machine guns.The unit also has semi-military roles such ascounterterrorism,maritime security,air defense,prisoner transport,and assists the Protection Unit in escorting VIPs.
  3. ^Also called theSecurity Corpsis one of two independently operated subdivisions.
  4. ^The Protection Unit is mainly used by theroyal family,however, elected officials, diplomats, or ordinary citizens may request protection from the unit. Since 1989 the Special Police Unit was assigned to assist in case of need.
  5. ^Also called theChief of Staff and Commissioner's Officeis one of two independently operated subdivisions.

References[edit]

  1. ^ab"Annual Report 2011 > Total force – 85 officers, 6 cadets, and 34 civilian staff"(PDF).Landespolizei.Retrieved18 June2012.
  2. ^Markus Herzig."Swiss Helicopters – Current Fleetlist".Swissheli.com.Retrieved18 June2012.
  3. ^"Liechtenstein".OSCEpolis. Archived fromthe originalon 1 April 2012.Retrieved18 June2012.
  4. ^"Geography".
  5. ^Landespolizei facts and figuresArchived16 May 2013 at theWayback Machine
  6. ^ab"Comparative Criminology | Europe- Liechtenstein".Rohan.sdsu.edu. Archived fromthe originalon 8 February 2012.Retrieved18 June2012.
  7. ^"Intentional homicides (per 100,000 people) – Liechtenstein",The World Bank,retrieved17 April2023
  8. ^ab"CIA – The World Factbook".Cia.gov.Retrieved18 June2012.
  9. ^abc"Police are rarely seen in this peaceful Principality".International Special Reports.Retrieved18 June2012.
  10. ^England."Liechtenstein fear security will not be sufficient".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved18 June2012.
  11. ^"Landespolizei Structure"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 16 May 2013.
  12. ^"About Us > Home".Landespolizei.li.Retrieved18 June2012.
  13. ^"Traffic instructions by a young Liechtenstein police woman".Flickr.8 March 2007.
  14. ^ab"Security Corps"(PDF).
  15. ^ab"Annual Report 2011 > Total force – 85 officers, 6 cadets, 38 militiamen, and 34 civilian staff"(PDF).Landespolizei.Retrieved18 June2012.
  16. ^Liechtensteinische Landesverwaltung (23 March 2012)."Home – Amt für Bevölkerungsschutz".Llv.li. Archived fromthe originalon 5 May 2012.Retrieved18 June2012.
  17. ^ab"Top 10 Countries Without Military Forces | Top 10 Lists".TopTenz.net. 20 May 2010.Retrieved18 June2012.
  18. ^"Liechtenstein Military 2012, CIA World Factbook".Theodora.com.Retrieved18 June2012.
  19. ^Frommelt, Fabian; Rupert, Quaderer (31 December 2011)."Militär".Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein(in German).Retrieved23 February2024.
  20. ^VV, Arthur Brunhart /."Balzers".HLS-DHS-DSS.CH.
  21. ^"Swiss Inform Liechtenstein of Error in Troop Maneuvers".The New York Times.18 October 1992.Retrieved27 November2009.
  22. ^"Swiss in Liechtenstein 'invasion'".BBC News. 3 March 2007.Retrieved3 March2007.
  23. ^(in French)Oups!
  24. ^"Police Associations".Landespolizei.Retrieved18 June2012.
  25. ^"Landespolizei Liechtenstein > Notrufnummern".Landespolizei.li.Retrieved18 June2012.
  26. ^"Bergrettung".Bergrettung.li.Retrieved18 June2012.
  27. ^"Landespolizei > Das sind wir > Polizeimuseum".Landespolizei.li.Retrieved18 June2012.
  28. ^"WTO – Trade policy review – Switzerland and Liechtenstein 2000".wto.org.
  29. ^Relative Time (24 September 2006)."Border bridge: Liechtenstein and Switzerland | Sophie's World Travel".Sophiesworld.net.Retrieved18 June2012.
  30. ^"Jan S. Krogh's Geosite: A-FL Boundary".Geosite.jankrogh.com.Retrieved18 June2012.
  31. ^"Schengen: Die letzten Tage der Grenzposten".18 March 2008.Retrieved18 June2012.
  32. ^abc"The United Nations in the Heart of Europe | |".unog.ch.Archived fromthe originalon 15 January 2013.Retrieved2 February2022.
  33. ^"Landespolizei News > Official site".Landespolizei.li. Archived fromthe originalon 2 July 2012.Retrieved18 June2012.
  34. ^"Liechtenstein Schengen membership lifts border controls with Switzerland.- swissinfo".Swissinfo.ch.Retrieved18 June2012.
  35. ^ab"Border controls with Liechtenstein to cost Switzerland millions.- swissinfo".Swissinfo.ch. 26 September 2008.Retrieved18 June2012.
  36. ^"The Principality of Liechtenstein".Cyan.rrx.ca.Retrieved18 June2012.

External links[edit]

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