The Police of the Czech Republic is one of the security forces of the state. Its remit includes the protection of public order, investigation of criminal offences and supervision of road traffic. Although we meet it in everyday life almost every day, few people know who actually establishes the police, what its structure is or how future police officers are trained. In this article we will look at everything from a legal and organisational perspective.
The Police of the Czech Republic, as we know it today, was established in 1991, when it was established as an independent armed force under the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic by the Police Act of the Czech Republic. This step came after the fall of the communist regime. Before 1991, the police were part of a wider structure that included the Public Security Service, which was subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior and performed the functions of protecting public order and investigating criminal activities.
After 1989, with the fall of the socialist regime and the beginning of democratic changes, it was necessary to reassess the role of the police, its structure and powers. The new legal framework regulating the powers of the Police of the Czech Republic aimed to transform the police into a modern and professional force that respected human rights and was under democratic control. The above-mentioned Law on the Police of the Czech Republic became the basic regulation, which clearly defined the tasks, powers and organisational structure.
In the following years, the role of the police began to evolve according to the needs of post-communist society and the Czech Republic’s membership in international organisations. A key milestone was the Czech Republic’s accession to the European Union in 2004. This step meant not only economic but also security integration into the wider European area, which required the Czech Police to adapt to European standards.
The Police of the Czech Republic is an armed security force established by the state. Specifically, it falls under the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic, which manages and supervises its activities. The legal framework is mainly set out in the Act on the Police of the Czech Republic, which clearly defines the tasks, powers and responsibilities of the police.
This Act states that the Police of the Czech Republic serves the public and its task is to protect the safety of persons and property, public order, detect crimes, supervise the safety and fluidity of road traffic and perform other tasks stipulated by law.
Another important law that relates to the status of police officers is the Law on the Service of Members of the Security Forces. This regulates the rights and duties of police officers, their service, remuneration or disciplinary responsibility.
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The Police Presidium of the Czech Republic is the supreme governing body. It is the central department of the police, responsible for national coordination of activities, strategic management, methodology, international cooperation and a number of other important functions.
The Police Presidium is headed by the Police President, who is appointed and dismissed by the Minister of the Interior. He is responsible for the functioning of the entire police force and issues service management acts which influence procedures at all levels.
For example, the following specialised departments fall under the Police Presidium:
The structure of the police is divided according to the territorial division of the state. It is based on regional police directorates, which operate in all 14 regions of the Czech Republic. These are further divided into territorial departments and district police departments, which are the basic links in the performance of the service – it is here that you will meet ordinary patrols or investigators.
In addition to the territorial departments, the police also have specialised units, which together ensure the comprehensive performance of the security functions of the state. The basic pillar is the riot police, which oversees public order, intervenes in misdemeanours and provides routine policing on the streets. The traffic police are in charge of road safety, checking drivers, investigating traffic accidents and participating in prevention.
The Criminal Police and Investigations have a specific role, detecting and investigating serious crime – from murder to organised crime to economic offences. The Aliens Police controls compliance with the residence regime of foreigners in the Czech Republic and cooperates in the field of international migration. Another important element is the special unit URNA (Rapid Deployment Unit), which intervenes in extremely dangerous situations such as armed attacks, kidnappings or terrorist threats.
All units are supervised by the Police Presidium, which provides methodological guidance, coordination and strategic development of the entire police force.
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As the police have considerable powers, it is very important that someone publicly oversees their activities. There are several control mechanisms in the Czech Republic:
The police themselves have internal control mechanisms, including internal control departments.
Every future police officer must undergo training. This is provided by the police school, or rather by several training institutions under the administration of the Ministry of the Interior. Thus, police officers do not only undergo physical training, but also legal training, communication and other disciplines.
Secondary education is then offered to future police officers by the secondary police school, where students receive not only a high school diploma but also a basic overview of security issues. The school is suitable for young people considering a career in the security forces, but also for future civilian employees of the state.
At the higher education level, the Police Academy of the Czech Republic in Prague, often referred to as the Police College, operates. This public college offers accredited bachelor’s and postgraduate courses in fields such as security and legal studies, public administration and crisis management. The Police College educates not only active members of the law enforcement agencies, but also civilian students. It also offers postgraduate education and research in the field of security.
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If you are interested in becoming a police officer, you must meet the statutory requirements. According to the Law on the Service of Members of the Security Forces, the applicant must:
– be over 18 years of age,
At the same time, the candidate must not be a member of a political party or political movement, must not be engaged in a trade or other gainful activity and must not be a member of the management or supervisory bodies of legal persons engaged in business activities.
Once recruited, a new recruit enters the service and also starts training, often at a police school. However, the police school itself is not a prerequisite for a candidate to be able to practise the profession of a police officer.
The Police of the Czech Republic, established in 1991 after the collapse of the socialist regime, is an armed force subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior, which provides protection of public order, investigation of criminal offences and supervision of road traffic. The police were transformed after 1989 into a modern and professional institution respecting human rights. After the Czech Republic joined the EU in 2004, it was integrated into European security structures. Its organisational structure includes regional directorates, specialised units (e.g. NCOZ, URNA) and the Police Presidium, which coordinates national activities. Future police officers undergo training at secondary police schools and the Police Academy of the Czech Republic. The conditions for joining the service include age over 18, Czech citizenship, integrity and medical fitness. Police performance is controlled by several mechanisms, including the GIBS and parliamentary control.
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