The Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia has adopted a law:

On Police

This Law prescribes the concept of the police, its tasks, operational principles and place in the system of State administration and local government institutions, the duties, rights, structure and competence of the police, and the legal protection and work-related safeguards for police officers, their liability, procedures for the financing and provision of material and technical facilities, as well as the supervision and control of police operations. The provisions of this Law shall not apply to operations of the Tax and Customs Police of the State Revenue Service.

[5 December 1996; 19 December 2002; 15 June 2006; 16 October 2014; 11 October 2018]

Chapter I
General Provisions

Section 1. The Police

The police are an armed, militarised State or local government authority the duty of which is to protect the life, health, rights and freedoms, and property of persons, interests of the society and the State from criminal and other illegal threats.

[8 June 1994]

Section 2. Police Officers

A police officer is a person who holds a position in the State Police and who is granted a special service rank.

[15 June 2006; 4 October 2018]

Section 2.¹ Municipal Police Officer

A municipal police officer is a person who holds a position in the police force established by a local government or jointly by several local governments and performs the duties specified in this Law in the administrative territory of the relevant local government and in the administrative territory of another local government which has delegated performance of the tasks specified in this Law, or in territories of those local governments which have established a joint municipal police.

Legal employment relations of a municipal police officer shall be governed by the Labour Law, insofar as this Law does not prescribe otherwise.

[15 June 2006; 16 September 2010; 24 January 2013; 11 October 2018]

Section 2.² Port Police Officer

A port police officer is a person who holds a position in the police force established by a port authority and performs the duties specified in this Law in the territory of the relevant port.

Legal employment relations of a port police officer shall be regulated by the Labour Law, insofar as this Law does not prescribe otherwise.

[28 October 2010]

Section 3. Tasks of the Police

The police have the following tasks:

- to guarantee the safety of persons and the society;

- to prevent criminal offences and other violations of law;

- to detect criminal offences and search for persons who have committed criminal offences;

- in accordance with the procedures specified in law, to provide assistance to institutions, private individuals and associations of persons in the protection of their rights and performance of the tasks specified by law;

- within the scope of its competence, to carry out administrative and criminal punishments.

The police may not be involved in the performance of such tasks which are not specified in the laws of the Republic of Latvia.

No one has the right to interfere in the actions of the police while it performs its duties, except for the institutions and officials expressly so authorised by law.

[15 June 2000; 13 October 2005]

Section 4. Legal Basis for Police Operations

Legal basis for police operations is the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, international agreements, this Law, other laws and legal acts of the Republic of Latvia, and also decisions of local governments, if they are not in contradiction with the laws of the Republic of Latvia.

[5 December 1996]

Section 5. Principles for the Organisation of Work and Operations of the Police

Operations of the police shall be organised by respecting lawfulness, humanism, human rights, social justice, transparency and undivided authority, and also by relying on the assistance of the public.

The police shall protect the rights and lawful interests of persons irrespective of their origin, sex, age, social and financial status, occupation, citizenship, race and nationality, attitude towards religion, political and other views as well as education and language, place of residence, and other circumstances.

For the purpose of non-discriminatory protection of the rights and freedoms of persons and State interests, police officers shall not participate in the activities of parties and other socio-political organisations and movements, and shall suspend their membership in such for the duration of service in the police.

The police shall, by its operations, ensure the respect for the rights and freedoms of persons. Restriction of such rights and freedoms shall be permitted only on the basis of law and in accordance with procedures specified in law. Each time when the police have to restrict the rights and freedoms of persons, a police officer shall offer an explanation thereto justifying each specific restriction. In such cases, the police officer, upon a request of the persons, must state his or her surname, position, and service location, and must show his or her service identification document.

The police shall provide the detained and arrested persons with the possibility to exercise the right to legal aid and, if these persons so wish, shall without delay notify their families and the administration of their place of work or educational institution of their location. The police shall ensure protection of the health of the detained and arrested persons and shall take emergency measures for the provision of medical assistance and protection of the property of such persons.

[20 January 2022]

Section 6. Transparency in Police Operations

The police shall, in the interests of the service, inform the State and local government institutions, and also the public of their operations.

The police are prohibited from disclosing information that is an official secret or another secret specifically protected by law and which contains a trade secret or patent secret. Data from a pre-trial investigation may not be disclosed without the permission of the prosecutor or the investigatorʼs direct superior officer, and also materials that are contrary to the presumption of innocence.

The police are prohibited from disclosing information which infringes on the privacy of persons or violates the honour and dignity of natural or legal persons, if such activity does not take place in the interests of securing lawful order or conducting an investigation.

The police must retract information which it has disseminated regarding institutions, private individuals and associations of persons if it is not true. The retraction must be disseminated within one month in the same manner as the false information was disseminated.

[15 June 2000; 13 October 2005]

Section 7. Co-operation of the Police

The police shall co-operate with institutions, private individuals and associations of persons.

[13 October 2005]

Section 8. International Co-operation of the Police

The police shall co-operate with the police (militia) of other countries, international organisations, unions or communities, and shall also participate in international missions and operations in accordance with international agreements which are binding on the Republic of Latvia.

The decision on the participation of police officers in international missions and operations shall be taken by the Cabinet.

The Cabinet shall determine the procedures by which police officers shall be assigned and sent to participate in international missions and operations, and also the procedures for their financing.

[20 March 2003]

Section 8.¹ Police Liaison Officers

[15 June 2006]

Section 8.² Assistants to Police Officers

Permanent residents of the Republic of Latvia between 20 and 65 years of age who, considering their personal characteristics, are capable of voluntarily assisting police officers, may become assistants to police officers.

The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the organisation of the work and performance of the duties of the assistants to police officers, their rights and duties.

[15 June 2006]

Chapter II
Duties of Police Officers

Section 9. General Duties of Police Officers

The duty of any police officer throughout the entire territory of the Republic of Latvia, regardless of the position held thereby, location or time, shall be, in cases when persons address the officer with an application or a report on an incident which endangers the security of persons or society, or if the officer himself or herself establishes such an incident, to take all measures possible to prevent a violation of the law, rescue people and provide them assistance in the identification and detention of the persons who committed the violation of the law, identify eye-witnesses, guard the location of the event, and also notify the nearest police institution thereof.

[15 June 2000]

Section 10. Basic Duties of Police Officers

In accordance with the tasks of the police, the basic duties of a police officer, in conformity with the competence of the service, are:

1) to ensure order on roads and streets, in public squares, parks, means of public transport, airports, ports, stations and other public places in order to guarantee the safety of persons and society;

2) to register applications and information regarding criminal offences and other violations of the law, events that endanger the safety of persons or society and the persons involved therein, to react to such information in a timely manner, and also to transfer the information received regarding incidents endangering the safety of persons or society (accidents, fires, catastrophes, natural disasters and others) to the competent officials and authorities;

3) to provide emergency assistance to persons who have been injured as a result of violations of the law or accidents, or who are in a helpless situation, even if they are in a state of inebriation, have lost the ability to move independently or may inflict harm on others nearby or themselves, and also to provide assistance to minors who have been left without the supervision of their parents or their substitutes;

4) to conduct investigations in accordance with the requirements of the law, to ensure the participation of forensic experts in investigative activities in accordance with specified procedures, to carry out the necessary operative searches and other measures specified in law in order to detect, stop or prevent criminal offences, to establish and search for persons who have committed such offences or who are hiding from investigation and the court, or are evading the serving of a criminal punishment or who are missing, and also to determine the identity of persons and to identify corpses;

5) to enforce court rulings, and the decisions and instructions of a prosecutor associated with searches and performance of investigative actions;

6) to prevent and stop administrative offences, to determine the persons to be held administratively liable, to conduct administrative offence proceedings according to their competence;

7) within the scope of his or her powers, to detect the causes of criminal offences and administrative offences, and the circumstances contributing thereto, and implement measures for their prevention; participate in providing the legal education of persons;

8) to guard, escort and hold under custody the detained and arrested persons, and to execute criminal and administrative sentences within the scope of his or her competence, and also to escort and guard persons sentenced to deprivation of liberty for the performance of investigative actions in relation to the examination of the case in a court and between prisons;

9) to implement the physical safety measures for the objects and critical infrastructure specified by the Cabinet;

10) to implement measures for the safe-keeping of property in abeyance or found concealed property until the transfer of such under the custody of the competent State institution or official, to ensure the safe-keeping of documents, property, securities and other belongings that have been found and handed over to the police until the return of such to the owner;

11) to regulate the movement of vehicles and pedestrians, monitor traffic and means of traffic;

12) to control the compliance with regulations in the field of the handling of weapons, security guard activities and detective work;

13) [14 April 2005];

14) [6 December 2001];

15) [15 June 2000];

16) to ensure the safety of witnesses, victims, other persons and members of their families, and also the guarding of their property if the life, health or property of such persons is endangered in connection with assistance provided thereby to law-enforcement institutions in the detection and prevention of criminal offences;

17) to carry out decisions of courts (judges) and prosecutors on conveyance by force of persons who are evading appearance after receipt of the summons, and carry out court decisions on arrest;

18) to register and account for road traffic accidents for which documents are drawn up by State Police officers;

19) to control compliance with the water traffic safety regulations in internal waters, as well as compliance with regulations for the registration of recreational vessels;

20) to register and account for water traffic accidents in internal waters, as well as the persons who are to be regarded as victims and died in water traffic accidents;

21) to prevent immediate threats if a person, whether inside or near a dwelling, can harm the life, freedom or health of a person who is permanently residing in such dwelling until a court examines the matter of temporary protection against violence;

22) to control the enforcement of the decisions of a court or judge on temporary protection against violence or rulings of foreign institutions according to which the certificate referred to in Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 606/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on mutual recognition of protection measures in civil matters (hereinafter - Regulation No 606/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council) has been issued.

The types of road traffic accidents, the range of persons who are to be considered as victims and died in road traffic accidents, and also the procedures for the registration and accounting of road traffic accidents, the procedures and amount for the receipt and issuing of information to be registered shall be determined by the Cabinet.

The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the registration and accounting of water traffic accidents, the procedures for the receipt and issuing of information to be registered and the amount thereof.

The Cabinet shall determine the recording procedures, amount and storage terms for the submissions and information referred to in Paragraph one, Clause 2 of this Section, as well as the time of response when information regarding criminal offences, other violations of the law and events endangering the safety of persons or society has been received.

The procedures for escorting detained, arrested and convicted persons shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[20 March 1997; 23 October 1997; 15 June 2000; 6 December 2001; 20 June 2002; 27 May 2004; 14 April 2005; 13 October 2005; 15 June 2006; 14 September 2006; 12 June 2008; 21 July 2011; 6 March 2014; 12 June 2014; 28 April 2016; 20 January 2022]

Section 11. Supplementary Duties of Police Officers

Police officers, within the scope of their competence, have the duty to assist:

1) members of parliament, candidate members of parliament, and also officials of State institutions if their lawful activities are being interfered with;

2) health protection and veterinary supervision institutions - in the implementation of quarantine measures in cases of epidemics and epizootics;

3) medical treatment institutions, medical practitioners, epidemiologists of the National Health Service and State health inspectors - in the conveyance by force for monitoring or treatment of persons suffering from alcohol, narcotic, psychotropic or toxic substances addiction or venereal diseases, persons who are mentally ill and a danger to the society, and also conveyance and guarding in a medical institution of persons for which there are sufficient grounds to conclude that they are infected with the immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or infectious diseases the list of which is approved by the Cabinet, if they are evading the appearance at a medical treatment institution;

4) prisons - in the prevention of violations of the law and detection of criminal offences in such institutions;

5) fire-fighting and rescue services - in the implementation of preventive measures, fire-fighting as well as rescue operations;

6) the National Armed Forces - in the search for lost and stolen weapons, ammunition, explosives and other substances, articles and objects dangerous to the society;

7) motor transport and electric transport control services - in determining the identity of offenders of traffic regulations;

8) environmental protection and customs authorities, the State Revenue Service and the Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs - in their lawful activities;

9) the State Border Guard - in the control and implementation of preventive measures for the compliance with the regulations for the entry, residence, exit and transit of foreigners and stateless persons;

10) construction inspectors - to access buildings and land territories if there are reasoned suspicions of arbitrary construction works that endanger the life, health or property of other persons.

[20 March 1997; 13 May 1999; 15 June 2000; 6 December 2001; 27 May 2004; 15 June 2006; 4 December 2008; 12 June 2014]

Chapter III
Rights of Police Officers

Section 12. General Rights of Police Officers

When performing the duties assigned to them in conformity with the competence of the service, a police officer has the right to:

1) request persons to cease violations of the law and other actions that interfere with the execution of police powers, as well as use the provided compulsory means of constraint against the offenders;

2) identify persons, including to check personal identification documents of persons suspected of having committed violations of the law, and also other documents necessary in order to check compliance with such legal norms the control and monitoring of the enforcement of which has been assigned to the police;

3) question persons, accept explanations, as well as to summon to a police institution any person in connection with cases and materials the examination of which is within the competence of the police, but, if such persons do not appear after receipt of the summons without a justifiable reason, convey them by force in accordance with the procedures specified in law;

4) perform the procedural actions specified in law in order to ensure administrative offence proceedings;

5) detain military persons who have violated the law and to hand them over to the National Armed Forces;

6) detain and, until transfer to competent authorities, hold in custody in specially equipped premises the persons who evade serving a criminal punishment or an arrest;

6¹) when enforcing the decision of a court (judge) or prosecutor on the conveyance by force of a person, transport such person to a court or prosecutor's office or, if necessary, to a police institution and keep the person at the police institution until he or she is transported to the court or prosecutor's office, but for no longer than four hours;

7) in accordance with procedures specified in law, detain and hold under guard persons suspected of committing criminal or administrative offences;

8) detain persons up to 16 years of age who have left their place of residence or an institution for children without permission and to hold them in custody in a police institution until handing over to the parents or their substitutes, or to institutions for children;

8¹) until handing over to competent authorities, detain persons who have violated requirements of the regulations for the entry, residence, exit and transit of foreigners and stateless persons;

9) transport persons who have lost the ability to move independently or orientate due to the use of alcohol, narcotic, psychotropic or toxic substances or can inflict harm on persons nearby or themselves to institutions which provide services for sobering up, medical treatment institutions or dwelling;

10) based on a written application, detain persons who are in a dwelling under the influence of alcohol, narcotic, psychotropic or toxic substances and may inflict harm on themselves or persons nearby, or in the case when people nearby are afraid to stay alone with such person and there are no other grounds for his or her detention, and to keep such persons in custody at a police institution until the cause of the harm has ceased to exist, but for no longer than 12 hours;

10¹) if there is an immediate threat that the person which is at a dwelling or nearby it can inflict harm on the life, freedom or health of a person who is permanently residing in this dwelling (hereinafter - the person in need of protection), take the decision which imposes an obligation on the adult person who poses a threat to leave the dwelling in which the person in need of protection resides permanently, not to return and not to stay inside or near this dwelling (hereinafter - the police decision on separation) at a distance which is closer than that specified in the decision for a period of up to eight days from the moment when the decision was taken. The police decision on separation may also stipulate a prohibition for the person who poses a threat to contact the person in need of protection;

11) transport to a medical treatment institution persons with unmistakable mental disorders and who, through their actions, create obvious danger to themselves or to persons nearby;

12) transport to a medical treatment institution persons who have attempted to commit suicide and, to clarify the circumstances of the incident;

13) maintain records of persons who have committed criminal or administrative offences and of the persons declared as wanted, and maintain records of such items and information as are necessary to perform the tasks of the police;

13¹) maintain records of persons who are subject to a police decision on separation;

13²) maintain records of persons who are subject to measures of temporary protection against violence determined by a court or judge;

13³) maintain records of persons who have been issued with the certificate referred to in Article 5 of Regulation No 606/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council issued by the foreign institution;

14) register, take fingerprints, obtain other data necessary for the identification of persons and to obtain audio recordings, to photograph and film detained persons, suspects, accused persons, convicted persons, and also persons who have committed other violations of the law if such persons knowingly resist identification;

14¹) monitor public places and persons therein, including by use of technical means, in order to prevent and identify possible threats to public order and criminal offences in a timely manner, to find wanted persons or vehicles, as well as, by use of technical means, to monitor buildings, premises and territory of police institutions, and also objects guarded by the police in order to ensure guarding of the buildings, premises and territory of police institutions, safety of detained persons and guarded objects;

14²) obtain biological materials in accordance with the procedures specified in the laws and regulations governing the development and use of the National DNA Database;

14³) with the permission of the relevant holder, see the places that are not available to the public and the items therein;

15) temporarily restrict or suspend transport or pedestrian traffic on streets and roads, as well as the entry or exit of persons in specific places or facilities, if such is required in the interests of public safety, saving lives of persons, protection of health and property, as well as investigation;

16) gain entry at any time of day or night to an apartment without the permission of the residents therein (if necessary, by use of physical force) in cases when a person is to be detained at the scene of the crime, or when the lives of other persons are endangered;

gain entry at any time of day or night to non-residential premises and the territory of land parcels (if necessary, by use of physical force), except for such non-residential premises and territory of land parcels that has extraterritorial or other special regimen status, in cases when a person is to be detained at the scene of the crime, the lives of other persons are endangered, there are reasonable suspicions that a person who is suspected, accused or convicted of committing a serious or especially serious crime and is evading from investigation, court or serving his or her punishment, or a missing minor is located therein, as well as in cases of natural disasters and other emergencies when the safety of persons and society is endangered.

In each instance when police officers have, in cases provided for in this Section, gained entry into a residential unit against the will of the inhabitants or by the use of physical force, they must notify the prosecutor thereof in writing without delay, but not later than within 24 hours.

In any other case, entry into residential and other premises is permitted only in the cases specified in law on the basis of a decision by a judge, or in emergency cases with the consent of the prosecutor, to search a place;

17) for the purposes of determining whether persons have used alcohol, narcotic, psychotropic or toxic substances, test them with rapid diagnostic test for the detection of influence of narcotic or psychotropic substances, portable alcohol concentration specification measurement devices or to transport such persons for testing at a medical treatment institution in accordance with procedures specified in laws and regulations if an opinion is required to confirm or refute the fact that a law has been violated or to review objectively a case regarding the commission of a violation of the law;

18) according to the instruction of the Chief of the State Police or of the territorial police office during implementation of the planned measures, stop vehicles and inspect them (except for vehicles of diplomatic and consular representatives) in order to detain wanted persons and vehicles or to detect the drivers who are committing violations of the law in the field of road traffic and road transport;

19) carry out an inspection of the cabin luggage and other luggage of aeroplane passengers and, if necessary, also an examination of the passengers, except for the inspection and examination of diplomatic and consular representatives and members of the parliament of the Republic of Latvia and their luggage;

20) stop a vehicle and inspect it if there are ground to believe that the driver of the vehicle has violated the requirements of the laws and regulations governing road traffic or the vehicle is being used for committing of a violation of the law; to prohibit the use of a vehicle the technical condition of which endangers the safety of transport movement; to suspend from driving a vehicle persons who are intoxicated with alcohol, under the influence of narcotics or other intoxicating substances, as well as persons who do not have documents for the use of the specific vehicle or a driver's licence for the relevant vehicle category; to transport a vehicle to a police institution for the performance of the necessary examination if it has been declared as wanted or there are grounds to suspect that the registration documents, State registration number or the vehicle identification number of the vehicle have been unlawfully changed or forged, or the documents certifying the vehicle registration or ownership rights are missing or the lawful use of the vehicle cannot be established by any other means;

20¹) seize and transport to a police institution a wrecked vehicle that has been abandoned at the scene of a road traffic accident until the circumstances of the case are clarified;

20²) supervise and control road transport;

21) restrict or prohibit the performance of repair and construction works, and also other works on streets and roads if the requirements for the guaranteeing of public safety and traffic safety are not being met;

22) in order to prevent and disclose criminal offences in a timely manner, as well as to search for persons, conduct operative search measures in the cases and in accordance with the procedures specified in law, also by involving persons in undercover collaboration;

23) in order to prevent and detect an economic criminal offence, if there are sufficient ground to believe that such a criminal offence is being prepared or has been committed:

check the legality of the acquisition of the property of institutions, legal persons governed by private law, and associations of persons and the safety of its storage in production, transport and marketing sites; for such purpose to visit institutions, legal persons governed by private law, and associations of persons and together with the owner, his or her representatives or authorised persons, but, if they evade, together with representatives of the local government, to inspect the production facilities, warehouses, sales and other service premises and territories, as well as vehicles; to check by officials, financially liable persons, and freight carriers documents regarding material and other valuable resources and, if necessary, in the presence of these persons, to compare the conformity of goods, raw materials, partially processed and finished products found in warehouses, production and other facilities and in transport vehicles with their documentation, as well as to request explanations from these persons in cases when the law has been violated; to request the necessary documents, to take samples of raw materials, partially processed and finished products; until commencement of inventory taking, removal of documents or carrying out of an inspection, to seal the cash office facilities, as well as places where documents, money, goods and materially valuable items are kept, and to take other measures in order to ensure their preservation;

carry out inspections in order to determine how the norms and regulations for protecting the interests of consumers are being complied with in the production, storage, transport and sale of consumer goods, as well as in the provision of consumer services;

require from the relevant officials an inventory, audit or inspection of the production, financial and commercial activities of institutions, legal persons governed by private law, and associations of persons, with the participation of economic specialists in such measures;

24) seize objects, articles and substances, the manufacture, acquisition, storage or sale of which is prohibited by law or which are being stored without a permit, if in accordance with the law such is required, as well as to remove documents with indications of forgery;

25) [14 April 2005];

26) in urgent cases, with the consent of the driver of the vehicle, use vehicles belonging to institutions, legal persons governed by private law, and associations of persons (except for vehicles of foreign diplomatic, consular and other representation offices and international organisations, as well as specialised vehicles) to drive to the site of the incident or to transport persons to medical treatment institutions, if such persons require urgent medical assistance, as well as the pursuit of persons who have committed crimes, and the emergency transport of detained persons to a police institution;

27) without a consideration, use means of electronic communication belonging to State and local government institutions for service needs;

28) without a consideration, use public electronic mass mediums, websites of local governments, social media accounts of State institutions and local governments for the prevention of the violations of law, determination of the circumstances in which the violation of the law was committed and persons who committed it, search for criminals and missing persons, including, to establish the identity of such person who is unable to provide information regarding himself or herself, or to establish the identity of an unidentified body, including in cases of disasters;

29) announce and pay a reward to any person for assistance in the detection of a criminal offence and detaining the persons who have committed a criminal offence;

30) in accordance with procedures specified in law, detain and hold under guard persons to whom compulsory expulsion from the State is being applied or may be applied;

30¹) in accordance with procedures specified in law, prohibit the person referred to in Article 32(1)(d) and (e) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1862 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 November 2018 on the establishment, operation and use of the Schengen Information System (SIS) in the field of police cooperation and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, amending and repealing Council Decision 2007/533/JHA, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1986/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Decision 2010/261/EU (hereinafter - the vulnerable person), upon setting in of any of the cases specified in the relevant provisions, from exiting the Republic of Latvia in order to temporarily protect such person with the aim to prevent threats;

31) request and receive information, documents, and other materials from public persons and private individuals for free;

32) stop a recreation vessel and make an inspection if there is a reason to believe that the driver has violated the regulations regarding water traffic safety in internal waters; make an examination if it has been established that the vessel or its motor has been declared as wanted, or there are justified suspicions that the identification number of the vessel, the motor number, registration documents or the drivers licence of the person have been forged; to remove from driving of a recreation vessel a person who is under the influence of alcohol, narcotic, psychotropic, toxic and other intoxicating substances or also speed of reaction and attention reducing medicaments or has such a level of illness or tiredness that it may influence the ability of the driver to work and water traffic safety; remove from driving of a recreation vessel a person who does not have documents which certify the registration of the vessel (if the relevant vessel needs to be registered), or a drivers licence for the relevant vessel (if such is necessary); prohibit the use of a recreation vessel which is not in running order, is not equipped with the necessary equipment and life-saving appliances, as well as a recreation vessel which must be registered and which does not have the State registration number signs or name in the place indicated for this purpose; if necessary transport the recreation vessel to the nearest quayside intended for recreation vessels if it has been established that the driver of the vessel has not complied with the regulations regarding water traffic safety in internal waters;

33) check whether the person who has been released from a prison lives in his or her declared or indicated place of residence;

34) make a control purchase, as well to involve another person therein, including a minor in order to prevent and detect administrative and criminal offences.

[13 October 2005]

The Cabinet shall determine the procedures by which a vehicle shall be transported to a police institution for examination, stored and returned to the owner, as well as the periods for performing the examination of the vehicle.

The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the monitoring of buildings, premises, and territory of police institutions, public places and the persons therein, and the objects to be guarded by the police, using technical means, as well as the rules of processing the data obtained as a result of such monitoring.

The Cabinet shall determine the requirements to be met upon involving a person in a control purchase and the procedures for making the control purchase.

The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for maintaining records of persons in relation to whom a police decision on separation has been taken, for maintaining records of persons upon whom measures of temporary protection against violence have been imposed by a court or judge decision, and for maintaining records of persons who have been issued with the certificate referred to in Article 5 of Regulation No 606/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council issued by the foreign institution, as well as the amount of information to be entered in the Integrated Interior Information System on these persons.

[5 December 1996; 20 March 1997; 15 June 2000; 4 October 2001; 6 December 2001; 27 May 2004; 14 April 2005; 13 October 2005; 15 June 2006; 14 September 2006; 12 June 2008; 16 September 2010; 21 July 2011; 24 January 2013; 6 March 2014; 12 June 2014; 28 April 2016; 14 March 2019; 20 January 2022; 14 December 2023]

Section 12.¹ Police Decision on Separation

The police decision on separation shall include:

1) the name, address of the institution;

2) the position, given name, and surname of the author of the decision;

3) the given name, surname, personal identity number, address of the place of residence, correspondence address, and address of the possible place of stay of the person who poses a threat;

4) the given name, surname, personal identity number, or date of birth and address of the place of residence of the person in need of protection;

5) evaluation of the risk of threat of violence;

6) legal obligations imposed on the person who poses a threat and the expiry term for their fulfilment;

7) justification of the decision (conclusion of facts and the legal norm according to which the decision was taken);

8) information on documents attached to the decision;

9) an indication of where and in which time period this decision may be contested or appealed.

The police decision on separation shall be signed by its author. The decision shall be issued to the person who poses a threat against his or her signature. If the person refuses to receive the decision, a relevant indication thereon shall be added to the decision.

If the person in need of protection or his or her legal representative wishes for a court to examine the matter on temporary protection against violence, the police decision on separation shall include a notice on the date and court, when and where a copy of the court decision on temporary protection against violence can be received if the court examines the abovementioned question, as well as information that this date is to be regarded as the date of notice of the court decision and that failure to receive the copy of the court decision does not affect the legal effects of the decision.

The police decision on separation shall be an administrative act which enters into effect upon its taking and is to be enforced immediately. The obligation specified in the police decision on separation shall be valid through the term indicated in the decision.

The police decision on separation may be contested or appealed in accordance with the procedures specified in the Administrative Procedure Law. The contesting or appealing of the police decision on separation shall not suspend the operation thereof.

When a police decision on separation is taken and the person in need of protection or his or her legal representative wishes for a court to examine the case on temporary protection against violence, the police shall, without delay, but not later than on the next working day, send a copy of the decision, a written application of the person to the court, as well as other information that is at the disposal of the police and can be useful for the court when examining the matter of temporary protection against violence.

A coercive fine may be imposed on the person who poses a threat every time when he or she has violated the police decision on separation.

Contesting or appealing of the imposition of the compulsory enforcement measures referred to in Paragraph seven of this Section and provided for in the Administrative Procedure Law, shall not suspend the their enforcement.

The Cabinet shall issue the regulations stipulating:

1) the procedures for taking, announcing and enforcing a police decision on separation, as well as the sample form thereof;

2) the procedures for accepting and transferring an application to a court for hearing the matter on temporary protection against violence;

3) the procedures for controlling the enforcement of the decision taken by a court or judge on temporary protection against violence and of judgments of foreign institutions according to which the certification referred to in Article 5 of Regulation No 606/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council has been issued.

[6 March 2014; 12 June 2014; 20 January 2022]

Section 12.² Decision on the Prohibition to Exit

An employee authorised by the Chief of the State Police may immediately take the decision to prohibit the vulnerable person to exit the Republic of Latvia for a period of up to four months if all of the following circumstances have been established:

1) information or submission has been received which attests to the existence of the conditions referred to in Section 12, Paragraph one, Clause 30.¹ of this Law - the life, health or safety of the vulnerable person may be threatened;

2) there are no other alternative means less restrictive of personal rights and legal interests which could be used to prevent the relevant threat.

The decision of the employee authorised by the Chief of the State Police shall enter into effect at the time of taking thereof. Contesting of the decision shall not suspend its operation.

The State Police shall, immediately but not later than on the next day, inform the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of the decision taken to prohibit the vulnerable person to exit the Republic of Latvia.

The Chief of the State Police shall examine the contestation submission and take the decision within 10 days. Submission of an application to the court shall not suspend operation of the decision to prohibit the vulnerable person to exit the Republic of Latvia.

The Cabinet shall determine the scope of information to be included in the Register of Prohibition to Exit and Departure of Persons on the person for whom the decision on the prohibition to exit from the Republic of Latvia has been taken and on the child in relation to whom the court has taken the decision to prohibit to bring him or her out of the country, and also the procedures for the inclusion of such information, its storage periods, deletion procedures, and the authorities to be granted access to the information included in the Register.

[14 December 2023]

Section 13. Rights of Police Officers to Use Physical Force, Special Means, Special Vehicles, Use Service Dogs and Horses and Place Detained Persons at Temporary Detention Premises

Police officer, upon performing his or her service duties, has the right to use physical force, special fighting techniques, special means (chemical substances, objects or mechanisms intended for self-protection or ensuring of public order and security, but which are not weapons) and special vehicles, use service dogs and horses, as well as to place detained persons at temporary detention premises and in vehicles intended for such purpose, but in exceptional cases, if the number of detained persons is high, also at temporarily enclosed temporary detention premises, in order to:

1) repel an attack on persons, police officers and persons who are performing their service duties in guaranteeing public safety and fight against crime;

2) repel an attack on buildings, premises, structures, and vehicles regardless of their ownership, or free facilities occupied by armed persons;

3) free hostages;

4) prevent mass disorder and group violations of public order;

5) detain and transport offenders to a police institution, as well as restrain detained, arrested and convicted persons if such persons do not submit to or resist police officers, or if there are ground to believe that such persons may escape or inflict harm on other persons nearby or themselves;

6) stop intentionally wrongful resistance to lawful requests made by police officers or other persons performing service duties in guaranteeing public order or fight against crime.

The type and intensity of use of physical force, special fighting techniques, special means and special vehicles or service dogs and horses, as well as the necessity to place persons at temporary detention premises, in a vehicle intended for such purpose or at temporarily enclosed temporary detention premises shall be determined by taking into account the nature of the particular situation and individual characteristics of a person. When using physical force, special fighting techniques, special means and special vehicles or using service dogs and horses, the damage caused shall be restricted as much as possible, as well as provision of first aid shall be ensured to a victim, if it is necessary. If a person has been injured or has died as a result of the use of physical force, special fighting techniques, special means and special vehicles or service dogs or horses, a police officer must immediately notify the immediate supervisor thereof who shall notify the relevant prosecutor's office of such fact.

Special means (except for handcuffs and means of tying), special fighting techniques and special vehicles, and also use service dogs and horses may not be used against women, persons with obvious signs of disability and minors, except during mass disorders or violations of public order in group, as well as in cases when the lives or health of other persons are endangered or when armed resistance is made or armed attack is committed.

The types of special means and the procedures for the use of such means shall be determined by the Cabinet.

Upon commencing guarding or escorting of a person, as well as prior to the placement of such person in the temporary detention premises, in a vehicle intended for such purpose or in temporarily enclosed temporary detention premises, the person shall be searched by a police officer of the same sex and the objects present on the person shall be examined in order to seize objects which may be used by the person to attack the police officer or with which it is possible to commit bodily injuries to other people or to him or herself.

The Cabinet shall determine the procedures by which persons shall be placed and kept at temporary detention premises, in a vehicle intended for such purpose, as well as at temporarily enclosed temporary detention premises and the requirements for equipment of vehicles intended for such purpose and temporarily enclosed temporary detention premises.

[12 June 2008; 21 July 2011]

Section 14. The Right of Police Officers to Use Firearms

Shooting on purpose shall be deemed as the use of a firearm.

A police officer has the right, on a continuing basis, to keep and carry a firearm issued thereto for use in the line of duty. The Minister for the Interior of the Republic of Latvia shall determine the regulations and procedures for keeping and carrying a firearm issued to a police officer.

A police officer is entitled to use a firearm in state of extreme necessity to:

1) defend other persons and himself or herself from an attack which actually endangers life or may harm the health, or to avert an attempt to obtain a firearm by force;

2) free hostages;

3) repel a group or armed attack on police officers or other persons who are performing service duties in guaranteeing public safety and fighting crime;

4) repel a group or armed attack on guarded facilities, premises, structures, institutions, private legal persons and associations of persons;

5) detain a person who is showing armed resistance or who is surprised in the act of committing a serious or an especially serious crime or has escaped from arrest, or detain an armed person who refuses to comply with the lawful request to hand over a weapon or explosives;

6) stop a vehicle by damaging it, if its driver, through his or her actions, is creating actual threats to the life or health of persons and does not submit to the request of a police officer to stop the vehicle and if the driver cannot be detained by any other means;

7) render harmless an animal that endangers the life or health of a person.

A police officer also has the right to use a firearm to give a warning signal or to summon help.

Before using a firearm, a warning of intent to do so must be given. If necessary, a warning shot may also be fired.

A firearm may be used without warning if:

an attack is sudden or weapons, military equipment, or any type of mechanical vehicles are used in the attack;

it is necessary to free hostages;

an escape from arrest is in progress with the use of a weapon or a vehicle, or arrested persons are escaping from a vehicle while it is in motion.

It is prohibited to use and apply firearms at locations where, as a result of their use, other persons may be harmed; and it is also prohibited to use firearms against women and minors, except when they are committing an armed attack, show armed resistance, or endanger the lives of other persons or police officers by a group attack.

A police officer has the right to take out a firearm and prepare it for shooting if the officer believes that its use or application in the specific situation is not ruled out. If the detained person intentionally makes sudden movements or other dangerous actions which the police officer could interpret as attempted violence, attempts to approach the police officer closer than the distance indicated by the officer, the police officer has the right to use a firearm in accordance with this Law.

In all cases of the use and application of firearms, the police officer must do all in his or her power to guarantee the safety of other persons and to provide any necessary first aid to victims. The responsible official of the police institution must immediately notify the prosecutor of each firearm use incident.

[15 June 2000; 13 October 2005; 12 June 2008]

Chapter III.¹
Departmental Examination of the Police

[16 September 2010]

Section 14.¹ Conditions for the Performance of a Departmental Examination of the Police

A departmental examination of the police may be initiated to:

1) verify how the legal norms the control and supervision of the enforcement of which is assigned to the police are complied with;

2) search for persons in the cases specified in law;

3) to find out the identity of such person who is not able to provide information regarding himself or herself or to identify the body of an unknown person.

The departmental examination of the police shall be carried out by a police officer according to his or her competence in conformity with the rights specified for the police in Section 12 of this Law or in other laws. During the process of the departmental examination, a police officer does not have the right to perform such actions which are implemented only within the framework of criminal proceedings or administrative offence proceedings.

The departmental examination of the police which has been initiated in accordance with Paragraph one, Clause 1 of this Section shall be finished within one month or sooner if criminal proceedings or administrative offence proceedings are initiated.

If the time-limit specified in Paragraph three of this Section cannot be met due to objective reasons, the chief of the police unit may extend it for not more than four months. If a departmental examination has been initiated on the basis of a submission, the submitted shall be notified of the extension of the time-limit.

The departmental examination of the police which has been initiated in accordance with Paragraph one, Clauses 2 or 3 of this Section shall be finished if the objective of the examination has been achieved or the grounds for initiation have ceased to exist.

The materials of the departmental examination of the police in relation to the search of a person, verification of the identity of such person who is not able to provide information regarding himself or herself or identification of the body of an unknown person shall be kept together in a search file.

[20 January 2022]

Section 14.² Institutional Collaboration and Exchange of Information via the Integrated Interior Information System

If the location of a person, item or document, identity of a person who is not able to provide information regarding himself or herself, or the identity of the body of an unknown person needs to be determined, the police officer who is carrying out the departmental examination of the police may decide on the inclusion of the relevant information in the Integrated Interior Information System in order to determine the location of a person, item or document or the identity of such person who is not able to provide information regarding himself or herself, or to identify the body of an unknown person.

If the need to determine the location of a person, item or document or the identity of such person who is not able to provide information regarding himself or herself, or to identify the body of an unknown person ceases to exist, the police officer who is carrying out the departmental examination of the police shall decide on the deletion of the relevant information from the Integrated Interior Information System.

The amount of information to be included in the Integrated Interior Information System, the grounds and objective for its inclusion, the procedures for inclusion, use and deletion, the authorities which may receive access to the information included in this system, as well as the action to be taken when establishing a person, item or document or when verifying the identity of such person who is not able to provide information regarding himself or herself or when identifying the body of an unknown person shall be determined by the Cabinet if the relevant information has been included in this information system.

Chapter IV
Organisational Structure of the Police, Competence of Police Institutions, and Division of Responsibilities

Section 15. Organisational Structure and Subordination of the Police

The police shall consist of the State Police, municipal police, and port police.

The State Police shall, within its competence, perform its duties across the territory of the Republic of Latvia, the municipal police - in the relevant administrative territory and administrative territory of another local government which has delegated the performance of the duties or tasks specified in this Law, and the port police - within the boundaries of the port specified in the laws and regulations.

The State Police is an institution under the supervision of the Minister for the Interior.

The municipal police shall be included in the composition of the relevant local government, the port police - in the composition of the relevant port authority, while the municipal police and port police shall cooperate with the State Police in organisational issues.

[28 October 2010; 24 January 2013; 4 October 2018]

Section 16. The State Police

The State Police comprise the central headquarters and units subordinate to it.

The State Police shall have its own flag. Organisational units of the State Police may have their own flags.

[13 May 1999]

[20 March 1997; 13 May 1999]

Section 17. Civil Police

[15 June 2006]

Section 18. Criminal Police

[15 June 2006]

Section 19. Municipal Police

The local government shall establish a municipal police or local governments shall establish a joint municipal police, or a local government shall, in accordance with the procedures specified in the State Administration Structure Law, delegate all of the tasks of the municipal police to another local government. The local government in which a municipal police has been established may, in accordance with the procedures specified in the State Administration Structure Law, delegate separate tasks of the municipal police to another local government.

The duties of municipal police include:

1) prevention of violations of the law;

2) [28 October 2010];

2¹) registration of submissions and information related to possible violations of law and incidents which endanger the safety of persons or the society, responding to the provided information, and also the transfer of the received information to competent officials and authorities;

3) [11 October 2018];

4) control of how binding regulations of the local government for the violation of which administrative liability is provided are being complied with, and also the imposition of administrative penalties for the violation of such regulations and their enforcement;

5) provision of support to the State Police and State Security Service in guaranteeing public safety and fighting crime;

6) prevention of immediate threats if a person which is in or near a dwelling can harm the life, freedom or health of the person in need of protection until the moment when a court examines the matter of temporary protection against violence.

[14 December 2023]

If information is received that a violation of the law the examination of which is within the competence of the State Police is being prepared or has been committed, the municipal police shall take the necessary measures for its prevention, detaining of the offender, and guarding the site of the incident and shall immediately inform the relevant State Police institution (official) thereof, and shall also hand over the offender and the relevant documents on this person thereto. In such matters, the instructions of the State Police official shall be binding on officers of the municipal police.

The number of municipal police officers shall be determined by the local government or the supervisory council specified in the Local Government Law. The municipal police may comprise its chief, his or her deputies, senior inspectors, inspectors and junior inspectors, as well as senior civil officers, civil officers and junior civil officers. Municipal police officers shall perform their duties in a uniform. The basic requirements for the uniform shall be laid down by the Cabinet.

A municipal police officer shall, within his or her competence, have all of the rights referred to in Section 12, Paragraph one, Clauses 1-6, 8-12, 14.¹, 14.³, 15, 17, 20, 21, 24, 26-28, 31, 32, and 34 of this Law, the rights in accordance with the procedures specified in Section 13 of this Law to use physical force, special fighting techniques, and special means upon the occurrence of the circumstances referred to in Section 13, Paragraph one of this Law, and also the right to place persons in temporary detention premises and in vehicles intended for such purpose, but in an exceptional case, if the number of detained persons is high, also in temporarily enclosed temporary detention premises. Upon performing the duty referred to in Paragraph two, Clause 6 of this Section, the municipal police officer also has the rights referred to in Section 12, Paragraph one, Clauses 13.¹ and 16 of this Law, as well as the right to take the police decision on separation.

Special means which the municipal police officers have the right to use, as well as the procedures for the use of these special means shall be determined by the Cabinet.

Municipal police officers have the right to use firearms in accordance with the procedures specified and in the situations provided for in Section 14 of this Law.

[14 March 2019]

The procedures for the registration of the information referred to in Paragraph two, Clause 2.¹ of this Section, its amount and storage time limits shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[1 September 1992; 8 June 1994; 20 March 1997; 13 May 1999; 15 June 2000; 27 May 2004; 15 June 2006; 14 September 2006; 12 June 2008; 28 October 2010; 24 January 2013; 6 March 2014; 11 October 2018; 14 March 2019; 20 January 2022; 14 December 2023]

Section 19.¹ Port Police

A port authority as a legal person governed by public law may establish port police.

The duties of the port police shall include:

1) prevention of violations of the law in the port area;

1¹) registration of submissions and information related to possible violations of law and incidents which endanger the safety of persons or the society, responding to the provided information, and also the transfer of the received information to competent officials and authorities;

2) provision of security guard and pass control in the port;

3) guarding of the persons detained in the port area for committing administrative offences;

4) control of conformity with the port regulations and public order regulations issued by a local government for the violation of which administrative liability, initiation and examination of administrative offence proceedings, and control of the enforcement of the taken decisions is provided;

5) provision of support to the State Police and State Security Service in guaranteeing public safety and fighting crime.

If the port police receive information that a violation of the law which is not within its competence, is being prepared or has been committed, the port police shall take the necessary measures for the prevention of the violation of law, detaining of the offender, and guarding the site of the incident, and shall also immediately inform the competent State administration institution (official) thereof, and shall also hand over the offender and the relevant documents on this person thereto. In such cases, the instructions of officials of State administration institutions shall be binding on port police officers.

The number of port police officers shall be determined by the relevant port authority. The port police may consist of its chief, his or her deputies, senior inspectors, inspectors, and junior inspectors, as well as senior civil officers, civil officers, and junior civil officers. The port police officers shall perform their duties in uniforms of the common type approved by the Minister for the Interior.

The port police officers have the rights specified in Section 12, Paragraph one, Clauses 1-6, 8, 9, 14.¹, 15, 17, 20, 21, and 32 of this Law to the extent that corresponds to their competence, as well as the right to use physical force, special means, special vehicles, and service dogs and horses in accordance with the procedures specified in Section 13 of this Law, and to place the detained persons in temporary detention premises.

Special means which the port police officers may use, as well as the procedures for the use of these special means shall be determined by the Cabinet. The port police officers have the right to use firearms in accordance with the procedures specified and in the situations provided for in Section 14 of this Law.

The procedures for the registration of the information referred to in Paragraph two, Clause 1.¹ of this Section, its amount and storage time limits shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[28 October 2010; 11 October 2018; 14 March 2019; 20 January 2022]

Section 20. Competence of the State Police Central Headquarters and Subordinate Units Subject Thereto

[15 June 2006]

Section 21. Requirements for a Municipal Police Officer

A person may be a municipal police officer if he or she meets the following requirements:

1) is an adult citizen of Latvia;

2) has not been punished for an intentional criminal offence - regardless of the criminal record having been set aside or extinguished;

3) has not been convicted of an intentional criminal offence by releasing from punishment;

4) has not been held criminally liable for committing an intentional criminal offence, except when the person has been held criminally liable but the criminal proceedings had been terminated on the basis of exoneration;

5) has obtained at least secondary education.

A person can be the chief of the municipal police or the deputy thereof if he or she meets the requirements specified in Paragraph one, Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this Section, and has obtained higher education.

The chief of the municipal police or his or her deputy shall be recruited if a written consent of the Minister for the Interior has been received. The Minister for the Interior shall not give a written consent if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person poses a threat to national security or public order and safety.

Duties of a vacant office of the chief of the municipal police or his or her deputy or duties of an absent chief of the municipal police or his or her deputy may be fulfilled by a person who meets the requirements laid down in Paragraph two of this Section. If a person is entrusted with the performance of the duties of the chief of the municipal police or his or her deputy for a time period exceeding six months, a written consent of the Minister for the Interior needs to be obtained.

[16 September 2010; 12 June 2014; 11 October 2018]

Section 21.¹ Requirements for a Port Police Officer

A person may be a port police officer if he or she meets the following requirements:

1) is an adult citizen of Latvia;

2) has not been punished for an intentional criminal offence - regardless of the criminal record having been set aside or extinguished;

3) has not been convicted of an intentional criminal offence by releasing from punishment;

4) has not been held criminally liable for committing an intentional criminal offence, except when the person has been held criminally liable but the criminal proceedings had been terminated on the basis of exoneration;

5) has obtained at least secondary education.

A person may be the chief of the port police or deputy thereof if he or she meets the requirements specified in Paragraph one, Clauses 1-4 of this Section, and has obtained higher education.

The chief of the port or his or her deputy shall be recruited if a written consent of the Minister for the Interior has been received. The Minister for the Interior shall not give a written consent if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person poses a threat to national security or public order and safety.

Duties of a vacant office of the chief of the port police or his or her deputy or duties of an absent chief of the port police or his or her deputy may be performed by a person who meets the requirements laid down in Paragraph two of this Section. If a person is entrusted with the performance of the duties of the chief of the port police or his or her deputy for a time period exceeding six months, a written consent of the Minister for the Interior needs to be required.

[28 October 2010; 12 June 2014; 11 October 2018]

Chapter V
Legal Protection, Work-Related Safeguards and Liability of Police Officers

Section 22. Legal Protection of Police Officers

A police officer is a representative of the State authority and all persons must obey the lawful requests and orders that he or she has issued or made while performing service duties. Non-compliance with the lawful requests of a police officer is punishable. A police officer is under the protection of the State; the honour and dignity of a police officer is protected by the State. Infringement of the honour of a police officer, resisting a police officer, endangering the life or health of a police officer, as well as actions that interfere with the performance of the duties of office shall be punished in accordance with the procedures specified in the laws of the Republic of Latvia.

A police officer shall not be liable for economic and physical harm done within the scope of the powers of service to a person violating the law who does not submit or resists at the moment of detaining.

Requests of a police officer are compulsory and actions are binding on all persons until the official who is authorised to control or supervise the operations of the officer suspends or revokes such operations.

Section 23. Work-Related Safeguards for Police Officers

While performing his or her duties, a police officer is subordinate to his or her immediate supervisor and to more senior supervisor. If a police officer has received a command or order from a supervisor that is contrary to the law, the officer shall comply with the requirements of the law.

A police officer shall not be bound by orders and decisions of parties and other socio-political organisations and movements or their representatives.

Interference in the operations of the police by parties and other socio-political organisations and movements or their representatives is prohibited.

[15 June 2006]

The police officer trade unions do not have the right to declare strikes. A police officer has the right to appeal to a court decisions on him or her taken by the officials of the police and institutions of the Ministry of the Interior if the officer believes that such decisions unjustifiably restrict his or her rights or powers or injure his or her dignity. To satisfy their needs for culture and sport, police officers may form societies and clubs the activities of which are regulated by articles of association adopted and registered in accordance with the procedures specified in law.

[19 December 2002]

[15 June 2006]

[20 March 1997; 4 October 2001; 20 June 2002; 19 December 2002; 16 December 2004; 14 April 2005; 13 October 2005; 15 June 2006]

Section 24. Provision of Residential Premises for a Police Officer of the State Police

The State Police have a right to buy residential houses or separate apartments, as well to build residential houses for the needs of police officers of the State Police.

Local governments may, upon a request of State Police institution, provide a dwelling space near the place of service to a police officer who has been transferred for the needs of the service to another populated area.

[4 October 2018]

Section 25. Granting of Other Guarantees to Police Officers

[15 June 2006]

Section 26. Working Hours and Remuneration for Police Officers

[15 June 2006]

Section 27. Liability of Police Officers

A police officer shall be liable for an illegal action in accordance with the procedures specified in laws and regulations.

A police officer may not perform or support any activities related to torture or other cruel, inhuman or demeaning treatment or punishment. No police officer may refer to an order from a superior or such exceptional circumstances as a state of war or threat of war, threat to national security, internal political instability of the State or emergency circumstances to justify torture or other cruel, inhuman or demeaning treatment or punishment.

Knowingly carrying out an illegal command or order shall not release a police officer from liability.

A police officer shall serve a criminal punishment in accordance with general provisions, but segregated from other convicts.

A police officer shall be held administratively liable for administrative offences in accordance with the procedures specified in law.

A person may contest an administrative act issued by a police officer and his or her actual actions according to the procedures specified in the laws and regulations governing the administrative procedure.

[4 October 2001; 14 April 2005]

Chapter VI
Service in the State Police

[15 June 2006]

Chapter VII
Financing of the Operation of the Police and Supply of Material and Technical Facilities Thereto

Section 34. Financing of the State Police

The financial resources of the State Police shall be formed from:

1) grants from general revenue of the State budget;

2) own income obtained from entering into contracts with legal persons and natural persons.

[5 December 1996; 20 March 1997; 23 October 1997; 4 November 1999; 19 December 2002; 14 April 2005]

Section 35. Supply to the State Police

For the performance of the tasks assigned to it, the State Police shall be ensured with material and technical resources, arms, special means, and also police dogs and horses. Provisions for ensuring material and technical resources and arms to the employees of the State Police, their types, and also the provisions for ensuring special means, police dogs and horses to the State structural units shall be determined by the Chief of the State Police.

[20 January 2022]

Section 36. Provision of Service Premises to the State Police

The State Police structural units located in rail, air and water transport State capital companies shall be provided with premises by the relevant State capital company which shall cover the operating expenses.

[13 October 2005]

Section 37. Financing of and Supply of Material and Technical Facilities to Municipal Police and Port Police

The municipal police shall be financed and its material and technical facilities shall be supplied from the funds of the relevant local government.

The port police shall be financed from the funds of the relevant port authority.

[28 October 2010]

Chapter VIII
Control and Supervision of Police Activities

Section 38. Control of Police Operations

The operations of the police shall be under control of the Cabinet, the Minister for the Interior and local government institutions, within the scope of their competence.

[5 December 1996]

Section 39. Supervision of the Compliance with the Law in Police Operations

The Prosecutor General of the Republic of Latvia and prosecutors subordinate thereto shall supervise the conformity with the law in police operations.

Transitional Provisions

[15 June 2006; 16 September 2010]

1. The unpaid leave allowances for 2005 shall be disbursed within the scope of the State budget funds granted for this purpose.

2. A municipal police officer who has been recruited until 1 November 2010 and does not meet the requirements referred to in Section 21, Paragraph one, Clause 1 of this Law may hold the position of the municipal police officer until 1 March 2011. If the abovementioned officer submits a naturalisation application in accordance with the laws and regulations governing admission to Latvian citizenship, he or she may hold the position of the municipal police officer until the moment of examination of the naturalisation application.

[16 September 2010]

3. A municipal police officer who has been recruited until 1 November 2010 and does not meet the requirements referred to in Section 21, Paragraph one, Clauses 2, 3, and 4 of this Law may hold the position of a municipal police officer until 1 March 2011.

[16 September 2010]

4. A municipal police officer who has been recruited until 1 November 2010 and does not meet the education requirements referred to in Section 21, Paragraph one, Clause 5 or Paragraph two of this Law may hold the position of a municipal police officer until 1 September 2011. If the abovementioned officer commences studies (training courses) in an accredited educational institution and submits a statement issued by the educational institution on commencing (continuing) the studies (training courses) to the local government, he or she may hold the position of the municipal police officer until he or she obtains the relevant education or discontinues the studies (training courses).

[16 September 2010]

5. After the time period referred to in Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of these Transitional Provisions, a municipal police officer who does not meet the requirements referred to in Section 21, Paragraph one or two of this Law shall be given a notice on termination of the employment contract due to non-conformity to the requirements specified for a municipal police officer.

[16 September 2010]

6. The education requirements referred to in Section 21, Paragraph one, Clause 5 or Paragraph two of this Law shall not apply to a municipal police officer who has been recruited until 1 November 2010 if six or less years have remained till granting him or her the old-age pension.

[16 September 2010]

7. The Cabinet shall issue the regulations provided for in Section 12, Paragraph five of this Law by 1 June 2013.

[24 January 2013]

8. Amendments to Section 10, Paragraph one, Clause 22, Section 12, Paragraph six, and Section 12.¹, Paragraph nine, Clause 3 of this Law regarding Regulation No 606/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Section 12, Paragraph one, Clause 13.³ of this Law shall come into force on 11 January 2015.

[12 June 2014]

9. The requirement regarding the necessity of higher education arising from Section 21, Paragraph four of this Law for a person who is entrusted with the duties of an absent chief of the municipal police or his or her deputy or a vacant office of the chief of the municipal police or his or her deputy shall be mandatory starting from 1 January 2017.

[12 June 2014]

10. The Cabinet shall issue the regulations referred to in Section 10, Paragraph five and Section 12, Paragraph four of this Law by 1 October 2016.

[28 April 2016]

11. Until issuing of the Cabinet regulations referred to in Section 12, Paragraph four of this Law, but not later than 1 October 2016, Cabinet Regulation No. 305 of 7 April 2009, Procedures for the Monitoring of a Public Place Using Technical Means, as well for Storing and Publishing the Data Obtained in Monitoring, shall be applied.

[28 April 2016]

12. The Cabinet shall issue the regulations referred to in Section 19, Paragraph ten and Section 19.¹, Paragraph seven of this Law by 31 December 2019. Until the day when the relevant Cabinet regulations come into force, a municipal police or port police shall not exceed the amount of information specified in Cabinet Regulation No. 190 of 20 March 2012, Regulations Regarding the Procedures for Registration of Events and Reaction Time of the Police, when registering submissions and information related to possible violations of law and incidents which endanger the safety of persons or the society.

[11 October 2018]

13. A municipal police or port police shall start to register submissions and information regarding possible violations of law and incidents which endanger the safety of persons or the society in the Unified Incident Register not later than on 1 January 2025.

[11 October 2018]

14. The Cabinet shall issue the regulations referred to in Section 19, Paragraph five of this Law by 1 January 2020.

[11 October 2018]

Chairperson of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia A. Gorbunovs

Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia I. Daudišs

Rīga, 4 June 1991

Translation © 2024 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)