Federal Police (Austria)

Last updated
Federal Police
Bundespolizei
Logo Polizei (Austria).svg
Agency overview
Formed1 July 2005
Employees30,900
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction Austria
Governing body Directorate General for Public Security
General nature
Facilities
Stations1000+
Website
bmi.gv.at

The Federal Police (Austrian German : Bundespolizei) is the national and principal law enforcement agency of Austria. The Federal Police was formed in July 2005 as one formal unit of police. In 2005, the Federal Police replaced the Austrian Federal Gendarmerie, which policed most of the country, and the Polizei which policed Austria’s major urban centres such as Vienna, Salzburg and Graz. [1] The Federal Police also serves as Austria’s border control agency. [2] The Federal Police works in partnership with the 19 municipal police agencies and other law enforcement agencies in Austria.

Contents

Command structure

The Federal Police is commanded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior. The Federal Minister of the Interior is the highest law enforcement authority. The Provincial Police Directorates - established as federal authorities in the provinces - are subordinate to the Federal Minister. District administrative authorities (i.e. authorities established in the provinces for indirect federal administration) are subordinate to the Provincial Police Directorates. There are nine separate provincial police directorates which correspond to the nine provinces of Austria. They are as follows:

Dependent on the division, the districts and cities are controlled by either a District Police Command or a City Police Command. These commands then operate through several police stations throughout the state.

Equipment

The standard issue sidearm of the Austrian Federal Police officers is the Glock pistol in 9mm Parabellum. The most common model used are Glock 17 and Glock 19 both being the Gen 3 models while EKO Cobra also gain the Glock 18 with full-auto capability for more firepower. Officers are also equipped with batons and pepper spray for use as a less lethal option. [3] Officers may also use Steyr AUG assault rifle, the Heckler & Koch MP5 and other similar heavy duty weapons required for specialist operations.

Vehicles

Armoured vehicle 'Sonderwagen 4 Sonderwagen 4 Police Austria25102019a.jpg
Armoured vehicle 'Sonderwagen 4
Federal Police Volkswagen Touareg VW Touareg Bundespolizei Osterreich.jpg
Federal Police Volkswagen Touareg
Four Federal Police Volkswagen Transporters Polizei Wiener Derby.jpg
Four Federal Police Volkswagen Transporters
Federal Police Volkswagen Touran 2019 Tour of Austria - 2nd stage 20190608 (18).jpg
Federal Police Volkswagen Touran
Federal Police Volkswagen Passat Polizei VW-Passat.JPG
Federal Police Volkswagen Passat

Ground vehicles

The ground vehicles currently used by the Federal Police include:

The Federal Police experimented with a Porsche 911 in order to crack down on motorway speeding. After a six-month test phase, the Federal Police decided not to order more 911s due to fact that there was not sufficient storage space for their equipment and the high-cost of the vehicles. [4]

Aircraft [5]

Aircraft currently used by the Federal Police include:

Ranks and rank insignia

Commissioners
 
Flag of Austria.svg Austrian Federal Police [6] Bundespolizei Osterreich Aufschubdistinktionen 2015 A1 9.png Bundespolizei Osterreich Aufschubdistinktionen 2015 A1 8.png Bundespolizei Osterreich Aufschubdistinktionen 2015 A1 7.png Bundespolizei Osterreich Aufschubdistinktionen 2015 A1 6.png Bundespolizei Osterreich Aufschubdistinktionen 2015 A1 5.png
Generaldirektor für die öffentliche SicherheitLandespolizei-
Direktor
Landespolizei-
Direktor-Stellvertreter
Abteilungsleiter Landespolizei-
direktion
Stadthauptmann
Commissioner general of public securityState commissionerDeputy state commissionerAssistant state commissionerCity police commissioner
Leading officers
 
General officersSenior officersJunior officers
Flag of Austria.svg Austrian Federal Police [7]
AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 18.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 17.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 16.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 15.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 14.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 13.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 12.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 11.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 10.png
General
Inspector general
Generalmajor
Deputy inspector general
Brigadier
Assistant inspector general
Oberst
Chief superintendent
Oberstleutnant
Superintendent
Major
Deputy superintendent
Hauptmann
Assistant superintendent
Oberleutnant
Divisional superintendent
Leutnant
Divisional assistant superintendent
Supervising officers and police officers
 
Supervising officersPolice officers
Flag of Austria.svg Austrian Federal Police [7] AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 9.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 8.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 7.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 6.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 5.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 4.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 3.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 2.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 1.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 1a.png AUT-BP-Aufschubdistinktionen 0.png
Chefinspektor
(Fgrp 7)

Senior chief inspector
Chefinspektor
(Fgrp 6)

Chief inspector
Kontrollinspektor
Divisional inspector
Abteilungs-
inspektor

Sub-divisional inspector
Bezirksinspektor'
Station sergeant
Gruppeninspektor (E2a)
Sergeant
Gruppeninspektor
Sergeant
Not in line of promotion
Revierinspektor
Senior constable
Inspektor
Constable
Inspektor GFP
Border guard constable
Aspirant
Probationary constable

Historical ranks

See also

Related Research Articles

Oberstleutnant is a senior field officer rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to lieutenant colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway. The Swedish rank överstelöjtnant is a direct translation, as is the Finnish rank everstiluutnantti.

Leutnant is the lowest Junior officer rank in the armed forces of Germany (Bundeswehr), the Austrian Armed Forces, and the military of Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bundesgrenzschutz</span> Federal police organization in Western Germany

Bundesgrenzschutz is the former name of the German Bundespolizei. Established on 16 March 1951 as a subordinate agency of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the BGS originally was primarily focused on protecting the West German borders. During their early days, BGS units had military structures, training and equipment. The law enforcement officers legally had military combatant status until 1994. A major part of the early BGS personnel joined the newly founded German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) in 1956 and thus significantly contributed to West Germany's rearmament. The BGS was renamed to Bundespolizei on 1 July 2005. The change of name did not have any effect on the legal status or competencies of the agency, but rather reflects its transition to a multi-faceted police agency with control over border, railway and air security.

<i>Landespolizei</i> German state police

Landespolizei is a term used to refer to the state police of any of the states of Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Protection Group</span> Indian Protective Service Agency

The Special Protection Group (SPG) is an agency of the Government of India whose sole responsibility is protecting the Prime Minister of India and, in some cases, his or her family. It was formed in 1988 by an Act of the Parliament of India. The SPG protects the Prime Minister at all times both in India and abroad, as well as the Prime Minister's immediate family members residing with them at their official residence. Family members, however, may decline security.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federal Police (Germany)</span> German federal law enforcement agency

The Federal Police is the national and principal federal law enforcement agency of the German Federal Government, being subordinate to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community. The Federal Police is primarily responsible for border protection and railroad and aviation/air security. In addition, the agency is responsible, among other tasks, for the protection of federal constitutional bodies. It provides the federal alert police and GSG 9 special police unit, which can also be used to support the federated states of Germany. Ordinary police forces, meanwhile, are under the administration of the individual German states (Bundesländer) and are known as the Landespolizei. In addition to the Federal Police, the Federal Criminal Police Office and the German Parliament Police exist as further police authorities at the federal level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EKO Cobra</span> Austrian police tactical unit

EKO Cobra is the police tactical unit of the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior. EKO Cobra is not part of the Austrian Federal Police, but instead is directly under the control of the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Law enforcement in Germany</span> Overview of law enforcement in Germany

Law enforcement in Germany is constitutionally vested solely with the states, which is one of the main features of the German political system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baden-Württemberg Police</span> State law-enforcement agency in Germany

Baden-Württemberg Police is a state law-enforcement agency in Germany. It numbers approximately 35,000 police officers and civilian employees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Law enforcement in Austria</span> Overview of law enforcement in Austria

Law enforcement in Austria is the responsibility of the Directorate General for Public Security, a subdivision of the Federal Ministry of the Interior located at Herrengasse 7 in Vienna. Over 20,000 police officers are on duty in the Federal Police at more than 1,000 police stations. On lakes and rivers the federal police has over 70 boats and other craft to act as the water police.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Police of Denmark</span> Police agency

The Police of Denmark is the Danish National Police force, and the interior part of the Danish security forces in the Kingdom. The police are empowered to enforce the law and to effect public and social order, as well as being responsible for border control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Police Corps (Netherlands)</span> National law enforcement agency of the Netherlands

National Police Corps, colloquially in English as Dutch National Police or National Police Force, is divided in ten regional units, a central unit, the police academy, police services center, and national dispatch center cooperation. The law-enforcement purposes of these agencies are the investigation of suspected criminal activity, referral of the results of investigations to the courts, and the temporary detention of suspected criminals pending judicial action. Law enforcement agencies, to varying degrees at different levels of government and in different agencies, are also commonly charged with the responsibilities of deterring criminal activity and preventing the successful commission of crimes in progress. The police commissioner in the Netherlands is Henk van Essen since May 1, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Municipal police (Austria)</span>

The municipal security guards existing in about 40 Austrian municipalities are police forces besides the Austrian Federal Police. They may also be called city security guard, municipal police (Gemeindepolizei), local police (Ortspolizei) or city police (Stadtpolizei). The larger of these forces form municipal guard corps with competences equal to the Federal Police. Some municipalities including most statutory cities are not allowed to maintain a guard corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TM-170</span> Armoured personnel carrier

The TM-170 is an armored personnel carrier was announced for the first time in 1978 and entered production in 1979. It was originally designed primarily for use as an APC or an internal security vehicle, but could be adapted for a wide range of other roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamburg Police</span> German Landespolizei force for Hamburg

The Hamburg Police is the German Landespolizei force for the city-state of Hamburg. Law enforcement in Germany is divided between federal and state (Land) agencies. A precursor to the agency, the Polizei-Behörde, has existed since 1814.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rendőrség</span> Civil law enforcement agency in Hungary

The Rendőrség is the national civil law enforcement agency of Hungary and is governed by the Interior Ministry. It was formerly established under the Hungarian People's Republic in 1955, formally known as the Magyar Népköztársaság Rendőrsége.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Police of Finland</span> Overview of the police of Finland

The Police of Finland is a national government agency responsible for general police and law enforcement matters in the Republic of Finland. The Police of Finland is subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior and consists of the National Police Board, two national police units and 11 local police departments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waffenfarbe (Austria)</span> Colors of the Austrian army

Waffenfarbe(n) or Egalisierungsfarbe(n) are colors that communicate the rank and arm of service for members of the police force or the Federal Army of the Republic of Austria (de: Bundesheer der Republik Österreich). They are also referred to as Kragenspiegel (English: collar patches or gorget patches).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wasserwerfer 10000</span> Water cannon used for riot control, based on Mercedes-Benz Actros chassis

The Wasserwerfer 10000 is a water cannon used for riot control developed by Rosenbauer on the Mercedes-Benz Actros chassis for the Federal Police (Bundespolizei) and Bereitschaftspolizei in Germany. Named for its 10,000 litres (2,600 US gal) water capacity, it is the successor to the Wasserwerfer 9000.

References

  1. "OSCE Policing Profile for the Austrian BundesPolizei". OSCE POLIS. Archived from the original on 2014-03-13. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
  2. "List of national services responsible for border control" (PDF).
  3. Magazin Öffentliche Sicherheit, Ausgabe 1/2 2009: „Verhältnismäßiges Einschreiten“ (Ministry of Interior) (german)
  4. "Polizei-Porsche kommt ins Museum - oesterreich.ORF.at". wiev1.orf.at.
  5. "Austrian Flugpolizei". Bundespolizei. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Uniform - Unterscheidungszeichen: Organe Des Öffentlichen Sicherheitsdienstes (Gem. § 5 Abs. 2 Zif. 3 UND 4 Spg) - Amtsärztlicher Dienst - Seelsorgedienst" [Uniform - distinguishing signs: Organs of the public security service (according to § 5 paragraph 2 number 3 AND 4 Spg) - official medical service - pastoral service](PDF) (in German). Bundesministerium für Inneres. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Uniform-Unterscheidungszeichen (für Organe des öffentlichen Sicherheitsdienstes nach § 5 Abs. 1 Z 1 SPG ab 2015)" [Uniform distinctive signs (for bodies of the public security service according to § 5 Abs. 1 Z 1 SPG from 2015)](PDF) (in German). Bundesministerium für Inneres. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Uniform - Unterscheidungszeichen Laut Aktueller PUV" [Uniform - Distinguishing Ranks According to Current PUV] (in German). 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2023.