Wikipedia

Law enforcement in Croatia

Police
Policija
Emblem of the Croatian Police
Emblem of the Croatian Police
Agency overview
Formed1990
Employees24,973 of which 19,976 are uniformed officials [1]
Annual budget1.491.496.529 EUR [2]
Jurisdictional structure
National agencyHR
Operations jurisdictionHR
Governing bodyMinistry of the Interior
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersZagreb, Ulica grada Vukovara 33
Minister responsible
Agency executive
  • Marko Srdarević, General Police Director
Police Administrations20
Facilities
AirbasesLučko (LDZL)
Helicopters9
Website
www.policija.hr

Law enforcement in Croatia is the responsibility of the Croatian Police (Croatian: Hrvatska policija), which is the national police force of the country subordinated by the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia, carrying out certain tasks, the so-called, police activities, laid down by law.[3]

The Police deals with the following affairs: protection of individual life, rights, security and integrity, protection of property, prevention and detection of criminal offences, misdemeanors, search for perpetrators of criminal offences, violations and their bringing before competent authorities, control and management of road traffic, conducting affairs with aliens, control and security of state border, and other affairs defined by law.[4]

In the operative sense, police affairs are divided into affairs related to public peace and order, affairs related to security of public gatherings, affairs of the border police, affairs of safety of road traffic, affairs of counter-explosive protection, affairs of the criminal police, crime-technical affairs, crime-files affairs, administrative affairs, nationality-related affairs, status questions and asylum, affairs of protection and rescue, inspection affairs and technical affairs.[4]

In recent years, the force has been undergoing a reform with assistance from international agencies, including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe since OSCE Mission to Croatia began there on 18 April 1996, with Croatia being admitted to OSCE on March 24, 1992.[5]

Police powers

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Police powers are actually a set of rights that the police can, under the conditions prescribed by law, use in certain situations.

With regard to their meaning, police powers are prescribed by the Police Act, namely by the method of exhaustive standardization (enumeration) and they are:

  • checking and establishing the identity of persons and objects,
  • summoning,
  • bringing,
  • searching for persons and objects,
  • temporary restriction of freedom of movement,
  • giving warnings and orders,
  • temporary confiscation of objects,
  • polygraph testing,
  • inspection of premises, premises, facilities and documentation,
  • inspection of persons, objects and means of transport,
  • security and inspection of the scene,
  • receipt of reports,
  • public announcement of awards,
  • filming in public places,
  • use of means of coercion,
  • protection of victims of crime and other persons,
  • collection, processing and use of personal data.

There are four points or situations when the police are allowed to open fire. The police may discharge their firearm in:[6]

  • necessary defence (protection of one's own life or the life of another person)
  • last resort (elimination of an impending unculpable danger to one's own and others' lives that cannot be eliminated otherwise),
  • preventing the escape or arrest of the perpetrator of a serious crime (acts punishable by at least 10 years)
  • preventing the escape of a person who has escaped from serving a prison sentence for which a prison sentence of at least ten years is prescribed, and the escape cannot be prevented in any other way.

Organization

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Flag of Croatian Police

The General Police Directorate (Croatian: Ravnateljstvo policije) is an administrative organization of the Ministry of the Interior constituted for conducting police affairs. The General Police Directorate is responsible for:[3]

  • screening and analysis of the state of security and developments leading to the emergence and development of crime;
  • harmonization, guidance and supervision over the work of Police Directorates and Police Administrations;
  • immediate participation in particular more complex operations of Police Directorates and Police Administrations;
  • providing for the implementation of the international agreements on police cooperation and other international acts under the competence of the General Police Directorate;
  • organizing and conducting of criminal forensics operations;
  • setting the prerequisites for the efficient work of the Police Academy;
  • adopting of standards for the equipment and technical means;
  • setting the prerequisites for the police readiness to act in the state of emergency.

General Police Directorate is headed by General Police Director (Croatian: glavni ravnatelj policije).

There are the following organization forms within General Police Directorate:[7][3]

  • Police Directorate (Uprava policije)
  • Criminal Police Directorate (Uprava kriminalističke policije)
  • Border Police Directorate (Uprava za granicu)
  • Command of Special Police (Zapovjedništvo specijalne policije)
  • Operational Communication Centre (Operativno–komunikacijski centar policije)
  • Forensic Centre (Centar za kriminalistička vještačenja)
  • Police Academy (Policijska akademija)
  • Special Security Affairs Directorate (Uprava za posebne poslove sigurnosti)

For immediate conducting of police affairs there are 20 Police Administrations (policijske uprave) divided into four categories, which cover the territory of the Republic of Croatia according to the organization of units of local self-government (counties or županije).

Police stations are established for direct police and other affairs in each Police Administration.

Border control

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Croatia has had an external border with the Schengen area since the accession of the country to the EU. As part of the major migration movements from 2015, Croatia became part of the so-called Balkan route. The European Border Agency Frontex has a small mission in Croatia to assist the police at various border crossings. In July 2018 Frontex organized the air reconnaissance of the border with Bosnia with a reconnaissance aircraft as part of the Frontex 'Multipurpose Aerial Surveillance (MAS). The aircraft transmit moving images of remote sensing cameras in real time to the Frontex Situation Center (FSC) in Warsaw, Poland.[8] In 2023, Croatia became a Schengen Zone member state.

Critics

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For several times NGOs report, that the Croatian police illegally and arbitrarily deport refugees to Bosnia-Herzegovina, i.e. from the EU (push-backs). It would come again and again to attacks by the Croatian officials on the refugees.[9][10][11]

Ranks

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Regular Police (Temeljna policija)

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Regular Police members
Probationer with
Secondary School		 Police college
Cadet		 Police Officer Senior Police Officer Police Sergeant Senior Police Sergeant Police Inspector Senior Police Inspector Leading Police Inspector Chief Police Inspector Police Commissioner Police Senior Commissioner Deputy Police Director Police Director
Policajac vježbenik
SSS		 Policajac vježbenik
VŠS/VSS		 Policajac Viši policajac Policijski narednik Viši policijski narednik Policijski inspektor Viši policijski inspektor Samostalni policijski inspektor Glavni policijski inspektor Policijski savjetnik Glavni policijski savjetnik Zamjenik ravnatelja policije Ravnatelj policije

Intervention Police (Interventna policija)

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Intervention Police members
Police officer in intervention group Leader of intervention group Commander of a section in intervention Police Commander of platoon in Intervention Police - Instructor Assistant Commander of troop in Intervention Police Commander of troop in Intervention Police Deputy/Assistant Commander of Intervention Police unit Commander of Intervention Police unit Instructor in headquarters of Intervention Police Assistant Commander of Intervention Police Commander of Intervention Police
Policajac u interventnoj policiji Vođa grupe u interventnoj policiji Zapovjednik odjeljenja Zapovjednik voda – instruktor Pomoćnik zapovjednika satnije interventne policije Zapovjednik satnije interventne policije Zamjenik zapovjednika – pomoćnik zapovjednika Zapovjednik jedinice interventne policije Policijski službenik – instruktor Pomoćnik zapovjednika interventne policije Zapovjednik interventne policije

Special Police (Specijalna policija)

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Special Police members of Anti-Terrorist Unit Lučko.
Police Officer - specialist Leader of specialized group Instructor - Commander of platoon in Special Police Assistant Commander of Intervention Police unit Commander of Special Police unit Instructor in headquarters of Special Police Assistant Commander of Special Police Commander of Special Police
Policajac - specijalac Vođa specijalističke grupe Instruktor – zapovjednik voda u specijalnoj jedinici policije Pomoćnik zapovjednika specijalne jedinice policije Zapovjednik specijalne jedinice policije Instruktor u zapovjedništvu specijalne policije Pomoćnik zapovjednika specijalne policije Zapovjednik specijalne policije

Equipment

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Firearms

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Model Image Origin Type Calibre Notes
HS Produkt HS2000 Croatia Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum Standard issue sidearm.
CZ 75 Czech Republic Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum
HS Produkt Kuna Croatia Personal defense weapon 9×19mm Parabellum Standard issue.
Heckler & Koch MP7 Germany Personal defense weapon 4.6×30mm HK
Heckler & Koch UMP Germany Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum /

.45 ACP

Heckler & Koch G36C Germany Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO Standard issue. Short barrel variant predominant.
HS Produkt VHS-2 Croatia Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO
Heckler & Koch HK417 Germany Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO
Heckler & Koch HK417 Germany Designated marksman rifle 7.62×51mm NATO Standard issue designated marksman rifle.
Sako TRG Finland Bolt action sniper rifle 8.6x70 mm Standard issue sniper rifle.

Vehicles

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Croatian Special Police

Most vehicles in the Croatian police fleet are acquired through leasing agreements, which typically last three to five years. This approach allows the Ministry of the Interior to maintain a modern and technologically up-to-date fleet without large upfront expenditures. At the end of each lease term, vehicles are returned and replaced with new models, resulting in frequent rotation of patrol cars, vans, and motorcycles. Leasing also often includes maintenance and service provisions, reducing operational burdens. Consequently, the police fleet is regularly updated with vehicles such as Škoda Octavia patrol cars, Ford Focus sedans, BMW motorcycles, and Mercedes-Benz or Volkswagen transport vans, ensuring consistent operational readiness across all police units.[12][13]

Ministry of Interior also operates a large number of unmarked vehicles assigned to government officials and for other uses, all in black variant and they are mostly Audi A8, Audi A6, Volkswagen Caravelle, Toyota Land Cruiser.

Model Origin Type Notes
Škoda Octavia Combi Czech Republic Police car General purpose police vehicle.[14]
Ford Focus Connected United States Police car [15]
Volkswagen Caravelle Germany Police van [16]
Volkswagen Crafter Germany Police van [17]
Mercedes Benz Sprinter Germany Police van [16][17]
Ford Ranger United States Pickup truck Used for the needs of the Border Police.[18]
Toyota Land Cruiser Japan SUV Both in unmarked variant for the use with government officials and in marked variant for Border Police.[19]
Suzuki Vitara Japan SUV Used for the needs of the Border Police.[20]
BMW R1250 RT Germany Police motorcycle [21]
BMW F850 GS Germany Police motorcycle [21]
Terradyne Armored Vehicles MPV Canada Armoured personnel carrier [22]
CVT-6000 Croatia Water cannon vehicle
Cantiere Navale Vittoria V-800HR Italy Police watercraft

Helicopters

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Croatian Police helicopters during 2025 Military parade flyover.
Aircraft Origin Variant In Service Notes
Bell 206 United States Bell 206B 3 [23]
AgustaWestland AW139 Italy AW139 2 [24]
Eurocopter EC135 France Eurocopter EC135 P2+ 2 [25]
Bell 412 United States Subaru-Bell 412EPX 2 [26]

Controversies

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According to human rights organizations, Croatian police has been accused of overt and, generally unpunished, brutality. Amnesty international has issued a detailed report on the allegations of torture of refugees and migrants,[27] while the Human Rights Watch has criticized the organization impunity of violence and unlawful pushbacks at their borders.[28]

In 2021, the Border Violence Monitoring Network published a report into the use of torture and inhuman treatment during pushbacks by Croatian police.[29] They assert that:

  • 87% of pushbacks carried out by Croatian authorities contained one or more forms of violence and abuse that we assert amounts to torture or inhuman treatment
  • Unmuzzled police dogs were encouraged by Croatian officers to attack people who were detained
  • Croatian officers forcibly undressed people, setting fire to their clothes and pushed them back across international borders in a complete state of undress

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ https://mup.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/Strateski%20planovi/Ravnopravnost%20spolova/Plan%20djelovanja%20za%20promicanje%20i%20uspostavljanje%20ravnopravnosti%20spolova%202023.-2027.%20potpisani.pdf
  2. ^ https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fmup.gov.hr%2FUserDocsImages%2FFinancijski%2520planovi%2520MUP%2F2025%2F8%2FObrazlozenje%2520polugodisnjeg%2520izvrsenja%2520financijskog%2520plana%2520za%25202025%2520MUP.docx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK
  3. ^ a b c "Naslovna". mup.gov.hr. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  4. ^ a b "European police and justice systems - Croatia". 2007-05-22. Archived from the original on 2007-05-22. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  5. ^ "not found". www.osce.org. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  6. ^ "Zakon o policijskim poslovima i ovlastima".
  7. ^ "Organizational Scheme" (PDF). interpol.int. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-14.
  8. ^ "Frontex arrests people smugglers in Croatia". 30 November 2018.
  9. ^ "Croatia police accused of abusing refugees | DW | 16.08.2018". Deutsche Welle.
  10. ^ "Menschenrechtler beklagen: Kroatien schiebt Migranten nach Bosnien ab - ZDFmediathek". www.zdf.de. Archived from the original on 2018-12-17.
  11. ^ "Kroatien: Polizei schießt auf Kleinbus mit illegalen Migranten". Die Welt. 31 May 2018.
  12. ^ "Javna nabava" (PDF).
  13. ^ "Policijski vozni park zanovljen za 522 vozila s policijskim obilježjima".
  14. ^ "Ministar Božinović na primopredaji prvih 50 vozila s policijskim obilježjima iz kontingenta 522 vozila za policiju".
  15. ^ "Policija predstavila svoje nove službene automobile: Ford Focus limuzine s dizelskim motorima".
  16. ^ a b "Ministar Božinović na primopredaji 35 vozila nabavljenih putem Nacionalnog plana sigurnosti cestovnog prometa".
  17. ^ a b "Ministar Božinović na primopredaji 166 vozila za temeljnu i interventnu policiju".
  18. ^ "Preuzimanje sustava termovizijskih kamera na prikolicama i terenskih vozila".
  19. ^ "'Mitsubishi nije prošao jer nije zadovoljio uvjete'".
  20. ^ "Ministar predao ključeve 60 novih vozila za nadzor državne granice".
  21. ^ a b "Za prometnu policiju nabavljen 31 najmoderniji motocikl".
  22. ^ "Obilježena 30. obljetnica VRO Bljesak u Okučanima: Bila je to briljantna operacija".
  23. ^ "Zagrebački Tehnički muzej otkrio rijetku snimku svojeg mobiliziranog eksponata koji je u ratu bio naoružan raketama".
  24. ^ "Stigao još jedan policijski helikopter za nadzor granice".
  25. ^ "Kupuju se helikopteri za civilnu zaštitu".
  26. ^ "VIDEO: Ministar Božinović: „Ovim helikopterima otvaramo novu stranicu u sustavu zaštite i spašavanja"". mup.gov.hr.
  27. ^ "Croatia: Fresh evidence of police abuse and torture of migrants and asylum-seekers". Amnesty International. 2020-06-11. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  28. ^ "Witness: "If You Scream, They Will Beat You More"". Human Rights Watch. 2021-03-05.
  29. ^ "Annual Torture Report 2020 – Border Violence Monitoring Network". Retrieved 2021-11-12.
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