History

From the History of the Police

A noble vocation and responsible duty of the police officers is to serve Lithuania, Law and Man. The main objective of their work is peace in the Motherland and security of the people.

During the restoration of the governmental structures of independent Lithuania, on December 11, 1990 the Law on Police of the Republic of Lithuania was adopted, the flag of the police with significant words on it "Law and Legality" was created and consecrated in the Vilnius Arch-Cathedral Basilica, and the Day of the Police, October 2, was restored.

During the years of independence, the Law Academy (with its branch in Kaunas) and the Klaipeda Higher Police School opened their doors for the implementation of noble precepts and the education of police officers.

The traditions of the Lithuanian police were developed over decades. Their roots were in 1918-1924 when the organisation of militia was established in Lithuania and the militia volunteers were working. On January 1, 1924 the militia was officially renamed into the police. Their activity was regulated by the laws and statutes of that time. The main one included the Law on Militia of May 14, 1920, the Statute on the State Security Department of May 19, 1935, and the Code of Circulars and the Instruction for Police Employees. 

Since 1924 the police organisation has changed many times. At first, the issues of the police were settled by the Department of the Citizens Defence of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Later on it was reorganised and on January 1, 1935 the Police Department was established which included the police branches of public (or order), railway, border, private and waterways. The Criminal Police acted as a separate part of the State Security Department.

Today, though they are oriented to the tradition of a pre-war police force, the Lithuanian police have a different structure. The police are formed by the Public and Criminal Police. It is a coherent police organisation with a joining and leading chain, the Police Department at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.

The Police Department maintains a close relationship with foreign states, exchanges delegations, co-operates in the drawing up of mutual programs, analyses and plans a criminological situation, and exchanges its work experience with others. It forms contracts of co-operation, analyses tendencies, conditions and reasons for the increase of crimes, maintains public order, implements preventive programmes, and co-operates with state and public organisations.

In 2008 the Lithuanian Police celebrated their 90-year anniversary.

Law on the Police Activities of the Republic of Lithuania of 17 October 2000, No. VIII-2048