Andorra Police
Functions and missions
The Ministry of Social Affairs, Justice and Home Affairs, in accordance with the general objectives established by the Andorran Government, is the body responsible for the security of the citizens in Andorra. The Andorran Police Corps exercise the functions that the legal system attributes to it throughout the national territory, in order to protect the free exercise of rights and freedoms.
Mandate:
Protect people’s rights and freedom;
Ensure public safety;
Protect persons and property.
Structure and organisation
The organisational structure of the national police consists of the Directorate of the Police, four divisions executing the various missions of the police, and various functional groups.
The Directorate of the Police directs police activities throughout the country. Its members are nominated by the Government based on proposals from the Ministry of Social Affairs, Justice and Interior.
There are four Divisions with the following responsibilities:
Division I: Citizen Security and Specialized Groups is constituted of uniformed units which guarantee the security and immediate attention to the citizens of Andorra in all security aspects.
The Division consists of two units:
Citizen Security Unit;
Specialized Units, including the Tedax-NRBQ Group (Technician Specialist in Deactivation of Explosive Artifacts), the Mountain Group, the Police Intervention Group, the Public Order Maintenance and Personal Protection Group and the K9-Groups, which specialize on tracking, avalanches and detecting explosives.
Division II: Road Safety, Border Security and Foreigner Management is constituted of uniformed units, which guarantee road safety throughout the territory, control the Border points and work against illegal immigration.
The Division consists of two units:
The Road Safety Unit: consists of the Traffic Accident Investigation Group, which is tasked with all judicial proceedings of traffic accidents, and the Motorized Traffic Group that oversees road safety.
The Borders and Aliens Unit: consists of the Border Group, whose mission is to supervise border checkpoints both with regard to the control of people and vehicles, as well as illicit merchandise, and the Alien Group which is in charge of the internal controls linked to illegal immigration and related security issues.
Division III: Judicial Police and Criminal Investigation is a specifically formed unit carrying out investigations with a view of prevention and prosecution of crimes. The Division consists of one unit with two sub-units:
The General Criminal investigation Unit (divided into two specialized sub-units):
The first is responsible for Crimes against persons, Crimes against Heritage, Crimes against Public Health;
The second is responsible for money laundering, technological crimes, as well as specialized sections on drugs, juveniles, domestic violence, general affairs, organized crime and money laundering. It investigates crimes brought to its attention and is also responsible for cases of alpine accidents.
Division IV: Administration and Police Support consists of two units:
Unit 1 is made up of the Arms and Private Security Group the Police Data Processing Center, the Training Group, as well as Human Resources;
Unit 2 is made up of the Legal Services, the IT Group the Maintenance Section, the Sanctions Executions Sections, as well as the Public Relations Section.
Education/Training
The Training Group within the Technical Unit of the Police Corps is in charge of initial basic training, as well as the subsequent management of continuing and specialized training.
The training process of the student agents lasts between six and nine months and is carried out on the premises of the Headquarters of the National Police. The training curriculum includes: criminal and general legislation, professional ethics and police regulations, public order, circulation, intervention techniques, shooting techniques and weapons. Once this initial training has been passed, students are appointed as probationary staff for one year. Once this period is over, they are appointed as police officers.
Oversight by Police Ombudsman
The National Ombudsman is competent to receive and address complaints against the police. The ombudsman is independent of the government. The ombudsman is elected by consensus of all political parties. The Ombudsman’s main function is to defend and oversee the fulfillment and application of constitutional rights and liberties and to ensure the public sector adheres to constitutional principles. An annual report is laid before parliament with recommendations based on the ombudsman’s operations throughout the year.
Any administration of justice issue outside of the ombudsman’s competence is passed to the Higher Council of Justice for investigation. Criminal cases against police officers are undertaken by the Public Prosecutor’s office.
Source: OSCE
Legislations
Constitution [Constitució del Principat d’Andorra]
Criminal Code
Code of Criminal Procedure
Central Police Office: Tel. + 376-872000, fax + 376-872004, e-mail: policia@policia.ad
