almanac on security sector oversight in the Western Balkans

2.5. Kosovo Police
Kosovo
Since 1999, the main task of the police has been to provide safety and security and to
enforce the rule of law throughout Kosovo. The Kosovo Police (KP) is the only security
institution entitled to use force in accordance with the applicable legislation (Law on
Police, 2008). The KP operates under MoIA authority and control and supervision of
the general director, who is appointed by the prime minister upon the recommendation
by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Law on Police, 2008). Currently the KP has approximately
eight thousand police officers, fifteen per cent of whom are women and
around fourteen per cent of whom are ethnic minorities.
2.6. Kosovo Security Force
The Kosovo Security Force (KSF) is the newest security institution in Kosovo. Currently,
the KSF is a civilian structure with a humanitarian mandate designed to fulfil security
functions that are not appropriate for police or other law enforcement institutions
(Law on KSF, 2008). Although the law permits KSF members to be equipped with
light weapons, they do not have the power to exercise force. The KSF operates under
the control and administration of the Ministry for the Kosovo Security Forces (MKSF)
which is composed of sixty per cent civilians and forty per cent uniformed personnel.
The initial mission of the KSF is limited and not well defined. It has disaster relief
functions but at the same time it is perceived as a predecessor of the eventual Kosovo
Army. The mission of KSF can only be reconsidered five years after its establishment.
A majority of political and institutional actors in Kosovo have made clear their preference
for transforming the KSF into a military force, a process which is expected to be
concluded by the end of 2013.
2.7 . Kosovo Intelligence Agency
The Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA) was established to gather information concerning
risks and threats to the security of Kosovo. The KIA is prohibited from using direct
or indirect force, to make arrests or to initiate criminal proceedings. Structurally, the
director of the KIA is accountable directly to the prime minister, and the director is
assisted by a deputy director. Both are appointed jointly by the president and prime
minister for a five year mandate which can be renewed only once. The KIA also has
an inspector general who is appointed by the president and the prime minister for a
term of four years.
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Almanac on Security Sector Oversight in the Western Balkans