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Municipal Police Act

The activities of the municipal police in the Czech Republic are governed by Act No. 553/1991 Sb., o obecní policii (the Municipal Police Act). The summary below covers the main points. The full, legally binding text exists in Czech only.

What the municipal police is

The municipal police is a body of the municipality. It is established and dissolved by the municipal council through a generally binding ordinance, and it is directed by the mayor. It handles local public order matters and performs further duties under this and other legislation. It is not part of the Police of the Czech Republic, but co-operates with it.

Who can become an officer

A municipal police officer must be a citizen of the Czech Republic, of good character and reliable, at least 18 years old, medically fit, hold secondary education with a school-leaving examination, and hold a certificate of the required professional qualification. The certificate is issued by the Ministry of the Interior, is valid for a limited period and must be renewed.

Duties of the municipal police

  • It contributes to the protection of people and property.
  • It oversees compliance with the rules of civil coexistence.
  • It oversees compliance with the municipality's generally binding ordinances.
  • It helps to supervise the safety and smooth flow of road traffic.
  • It detects minor offences and deals with them where the law so provides.
  • It takes part in crime prevention and public education.

Main powers of officers

  • Request a statement from a person who can help clarify a minor offence (Section 11).
  • Require proof of identity in the cases set out by law (Section 12).
  • Bring a person before the Police of the Czech Republic if they fail to prove their identity (Section 13).
  • Take a weapon from a person where the circumstances require it (Section 14).
  • Prohibit entry to specified places, for example at the scene of an incident (Section 15).
  • Open a dwelling under strictly limited conditions where life or health is at risk (Section 16).
  • Fit a wheel clamp to a vehicle parked in breach of the rules (Section 17a).
  • Use coercive measures and a service weapon only in the cases set out by law and always to the minimum extent necessary (Sections 18 onwards).

Each of these powers is subject to statutory conditions. An officer must always act so as to interfere with the rights of those affected as little as possible.

Obligations of officers

An officer must intervene even when off duty if life, health or property is under immediate threat. On duty they are identified by a standard uniform bearing an identification number, and they will produce their service card on request. They are bound by a duty of confidentiality regarding facts learned in the course of duty.

Complaints

A complaint about an officer's conduct may be lodged with the City of Karlovy Vary. Contact details are given in the Contact section.