Index

Policing Overview

The National Police (Landespolizei) is the central police authority in the Principality of Liechtenstein. The National Police is subject to the Ministry for Home Affairs, Education and Environment (Ministerium für Inneres, Bildung und Umwelt).

Border Security and Management Overview

While some border-related tasks are handled by the Security and Traffic Division of the National Police, customs matters on the Liechtenstein-Austrian border are the responsibility of the Swiss Customs Administration due to the Customs Treaty with Switzerland.

Counter Terrorism Overview

The Crime Investigation Division of the National Police is dedicated to investigating any terrorism-related offences. The National Police has a Special Police Unit (SWAT Unit) to counter not only terrorist attacks but any type of violent crime.

Cyber/ICT Security Overview

The National Police has a Cyber Crime Unit investigating any type of cyber offences. Due to a police co-operation treaty with Switzerland and Austria, joint investigations or operations are also feasible in cases of cybercrime. Switzerland’s CERT provides services to Liechtenstein as well. Domestically, the Office for Communications (AK) is the regulatory, supervisory and administrative authority in the field of electronic communications in Liechtenstein. In the event of a cyber incident, it would consult with relevant agencies, public institutions and ministries when preparing a national response.

National Police

Functions and missions

The Liechtenstein National Police (Landespolizei) is the central law enforcement authority in the 160 km2 (61 sq mi) doubly landlocked alpine country in Western-Central Europe. Bordered by Switzerland to its West, and Austria to its East, Liechtenstein maintains a trilateral police treaty which enables close cross-border cooperation between the police forces of the three countries.

The National Police of Liechtenstein is tasked with:

  • maintaining law and public order;
  • investigating crime in accordance with the principles of the Code of Criminal Procedure;
  • controlling and supervising road traffic;
  • assisting authorities to fulfill their duties in keeping with the respective laws and provisions;
  • preventing crime and accidents;
  • assisting in case of natural or man-made disasters; and
  • searching for persons reported missing.

Structure and organisation

The National Police is headed by the Commissioner’s office and consists of three operational divisions:

  • Security and Traffic Division
  • Crime Investigation Division
  • Executive Support Division

Education/Training

After successfully completing an assessment the basic training takes place at the police academy of Eastern Switzerland /Liechtenstein (Ostschweizer Polizeischule) and lasts two years.


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Office for Communications

Functions and missions

The Office for Communications (AK) is the regulatory, supervisory and administrative authority of Liechtenstein in telecommunications, radio, television, Internet and CATV and therefore responsible for mobile communications. The following tasks are performed in this context:

  • frequency planning, frequency allocation and monitoring of usage terms and conditions
  • Compliance with EU Roaming Regulation
  • allocation of E.164 numbers
  • allocation of coding resources
  • Market analysis M7 (Special regulation of the mobile termination market)
  • Frequency Coordination in the border area (HCM-Agreement)
  • combating abuses and fraud

In the media sector, AK acts as office of the media commission. In the field of electronic signatures, AK is the accreditation and supervisory body. It manages and publishes information on the supervision or accreditation status of certification services of certification-service-providers.

Structure and organisation

The AK has six separate sub-directorates:

  • Secretariat
  • Office of the Committee on Media
  • Technical Regulations/Resources Management
  • Market authority/Business management
  • Law
  • Radio Administration/ Frequency Management


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Criminal Justice System

General information

Jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters is exercised in the first instance by the Court of Justice; in the second instance by the Court of Appeals; in the third and final instance by the Supreme Court.

Prosecution

In cases where the Public Prosecutor deems that a report or complaint indicates that there is sufficient ground for a criminal prosecution, he requests the examining magistrate to initiate a preliminary investigation. The latter notifies the Public Prosecutor of the results of this investigation and, on the basis of these findings, the Public Prosecutor decides whether to issue an indictment or drop the case.


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