Imperial Police Force (Barrayar)

Imperial Police Force Imperial Police Force Politsiya Imperskiy Af̱tokratorikós Astynomía Force impériale de police
Vehicle insignia of the Imperial Police Force
Common name	Imperial Police
Abbreviation	IPF PI AA FIP
Motto	To Serve and to Protect
Agency overview
Formed	3001
Legal personality	Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Barrayar, Barrayar
Population	2,604,035,547
Legal jurisdiction	As per operations jurisdiction
Governing body	Government of Barrayar
General nature	Local civilian police
Operational structure
Overviewed by	Department of Public Security
Minister of Interior responsible	Alexej Varonevskij
Agency executive	Claude Cordier, Chief of the Imperial Police Force
Facilities
District Commands	64

The Imperial Police Force is the constabulary police service that covers Southern Continent on Barrayar and the "Imperial District", i.e. the Vorbarra District. The "ImpPol", as it is known, was established as a centralized organisation uniting the municipal, city, and rural uniformed forces under Imperial government during the first year of reign of the incumbent Emperor Serg Vorbarra, in 3001. The organization most regarded as main predecessor of the Imperial Police Force was the Imperial Civil Security.
The Imperial Police Force is under the direct control of Minister of Interior, who appoints the Chief of the Imperial Police in the Ministry of the Interior (C-IPF-MinInt), who is also the President of the Department of Imperial Security; however, due to its dimensions, the Imperial Police Forces is internally organized as a separate Department. The Imperial Police is organized according to two basic criteria: territorial and functional division, which interact among themselves. Commands and Services manage the coordination of all functional specialities of the police and the Territorial Commands are intended to coordinate the peripheral joints of the majority of specialities.
The IPF is a civilian, although paramilitary, organization: therefore, all its members have performed their military conscription period, and this ensure a widespread diffusion of military discipline and world-view.
Police Officers of the IPF have full police powers throughout Southern Continent and the adjacent waters, Capital City Vorbarr Sultana, Vorbarra District and space station within Barrayaran solar system: on cases of joint operations, they are often empowered to operate also in Northern Districts; however, IPF authority and jurisdiction do not extend to the space regions outside the premises of inhabited planets and space stations.
In order to avoid undue fraternizations, all Police Officers cannot serve in their own birthplace District for at least 8 years after the entrance in active duty, and however they cannot serve in their own Region, unless there are specific reasons. On general basis, however, personnel assignments to different language areas are avoided. The Imperial Police Force can be more accurately described as a paramilitary rather than a strategic force, neither geared nor equipped at large towards the fighting or winning of wars, but to its duties of protection of public security and where needs be, execution of armed services.

History

The notion of law enforcement under direct Imperial responsibility outside the military tracks back to the opening to colonization of the Southern Continent. In 2858, Emperor Yuri Vorbarra laid down the Imperial Police Act (Southern and Planet): the Imperial Civil Security functioned as a planet-wide jurisdiction, and maintained presence also within the Northern Districts; an Urban Police carried out urban law enforcement in Southern cities and large towns; a Rural Police maintained law and order in the backcountry and in rural areas of the Southern Continent. Finally, a number of cities of significant size had a Charter and their Municipal Guard (5 to 7, according the period) and two Southern Districts (Keroslav and Bladecoast Districts) maintained an auxiliary and complementary police corps.
This organization proved useful enough through the following decades. Emperor Ezar made only minor changes to the number of chartered cities and, towards the end of his reign, disestablishing the District police services also due the rapid growth of incorporated Districts. The attention to the law enforcement agencies turned down during the early, difficult years of the Vorkosigan's Regency. The combination of rural, urban and municipal police corps was efficient and several administrative short-cuts were developed.

Mission

The Imperial Police Force has a broad array of missions and task to fullfil. The institutional service includes vigilance inside and outside built-up areas, the monitoring of the traffic and the routes crossed by high personalities, vigilance on the regulation of weapons, explosives and hazardous materials, supervision of dangerous people for the public moral conduct, the beggars, the vagrants, the vilified and minors, as well as the supervision of railway stations, sea and air and the control of aliens.
In respect of public issues, the service includes supervision of activities subject to police authorizations and public hygiene; as the judicial police, the Police is responsible for the investigation of crimes and investigations, the pursuit and arrest of fugitives, the execution of arrests, detentions and arrest warrants and temporary custody of detainees. In addition, the police performs the assistance to judicial hearings, assistance to public authorities, assistance to fairs and markets and supervision on the meetings and public gatherings. Finally, it lends the relief work in public and private calamities, proceeds to the collection of information and the execution of emergency stocks and stocks of honor.

Territorial control

The main and foremost task of the Imperial Police Force is the control of the territory; this control of the territory does not consist in the general surveillance, which is capable of preventing the consummation of crime, however, in a way limited in time and place, but consists in the observation and knowledge of the social environment, in order to have a complete mastery of the territory and of the local crime. This "mastery of the territory", in turn, is achieved if the units in service are capable of observing and knowing the environment - as a set of places and people - as well as to associate with the generic surveillance also news and information research and gathering, fundamental instruments of knowledge but also a deterrent to crime; in this way, potential offenders see themselves "marked and monitored". The preventive activity becomes, thus, control of the territory, understood as observation, knowledge and mastery of the environment.
In the communities of the Southern Continent, the Imperial Policeman is a discreet and reassuring. He is the "friendly uniform" par excellence, to which anyone can ask for much more than just help. The police, especially in rural communities, is a landmark not only for reasons closely linked to the exercise of police tasks, but often for advice, for a word that serves to resolve a dispute or prevent the onset, sometimes only for consolation. The territorial control is really a "social function", carried out by a familiar figure, present everywhere, in large urban centers as in smaller villages, with a single mission: the service to the community in which it operates, which guarantees close protection and reserves the exclusive friendship. This is a feeling that the community returns most of the time, integrating the Territorial Police Station, immediate "sentinel" of the territory, into the legacy of the community itself with affection and confident expectations, recognizing the dedication to the common good and selfless dedication of the Imperial Policemen. The renewal of this mechanism makes the Policeman hear even more about themselves, the responsibility towards the community and carry it out at best. This is possible thanks to the ability to listen to those who live on its territory and that translates to the Police, in a fervor operating, supported by ethical values, which is a guarantee of order and security.

Personnel management

In the Imperial Police Force, the administration of discipline among its members is considered essential. Posted at all points of the Southern Continent, the Police would not know exist if you do not find in the common emulation, the blind self-denial, in close union, in mutual consideration and respect, into the limitless love of order, uniformity of feeling, the spirit body that although separated from the center, holds all morally united States, and retains the entire force.

Operational methodology

The operational methodology of the Imperial Police Force is based around the freedom of initiative in accordance with superior orders, enacted by disciplined and well-trained policemen who operate in a rigid but non oppressive framework.
Senior officials and other commanders have wide freedom of action appropriate to their high functions and the resulting complex responsibilities. On the other hand, it is their absolute duty to leave to each of their subordinates freedom of action corresponding to the powers and the responsibilities of each one; because the initiative and know how to operate according to one's own judgement, knowing how to calmly face responsibility for one's own decisions, are qualities that can not occur in those who have contracted the habit to do nothing without receiving the superior's order or to operate according minute requirements designed to regulate every act. To form the spirit of the initiative is necessary to develop in the subordinates an awareness of the personal dignity and of their own value, as a man and as a cop, instilling the necessary confidence in the leaders and colleagues.
For this purpose it is necessary that subordinates, within the limits of their powers and of the purpose to be achieved, act according to their own criteria, but also that any errors and inconveniences not derived from a lack of will undergo corrections and teachings by direct superiors and not rebuke or blame. The superior therefore must require compliance with duties with persevering energy and decision which, properly tempered by calm and free from threats as well as from tolerant weaknesses, make the subject an active and enthusiastic contributor by inner conviction.

Militarization of police

The Imperial Police Forces is a civilian, although paramilitary, agency: therefore, all its members have performed at least their military conscription period, and often experienced servicemen shift in the IPF after their 20-years period. These characteristics ensure a widespread diffusion of military discipline and world-view.
The militarization of the Imperial Police Force is further strenghtened by the dual training as as policemen and regular soldiers. This produces also the adoption of the war-fighting tactics of soldiers, especially when in high-risk situation. Every year, billions of Imperial Marks’ worth of military equipment flows from the Imperial Service to the civilian law enforcement agencies, including the Imperial Police Force. Police commands use these military-grade weapons in everyday policing, especially to fight drug wars. Being in charge of providing both the first response and often the manpower for spread unrest or emergency situation, an high percentage of the District Commands obtain military equipment in order to be able to augment Internal Troops if needed. This equipment is largely cost-free for the Imperial Police Force; the result is that police raids often look military-style.
Police sensitive and dangerous raids are often conducted in an aggressive way, impacting the most hostile members of society and transforming violent neighbourhoods into fire-zones. This aggressive style harms also innocent people. The practice of special teams busting down doors with no warning, leads some people to think it may be a burglary.
A further feature which distinguishes the IPF from ordinary civilian police forces is that the former is completely autonomous from the civil society: food, supplies, health, housing, technical maintenance, communications and even fuel stations are provided by the corps and/or by military organizations. Personnel is housed in large compounds and barrack and only in rare cases it is permitted to rent an house outside the police compounds.

Police-community relations

Many citizens hold their views of the police as authority figures to be respected but whom they can turn for aid. The public often seeks police assistance to settle family quarrels, counsel juveniles, and mediate minor disputes. Citizens regularly consult police for directions to hotels and residences. Police are encouraged by their superiors to view these tasks as answering the public's demands for service and as inspiring community confidence in the police. Public attitudes toward the police are generally favorable.

Barrayaran police ranks

File:Imperial Police Force.png

IPF standard patrol uniform.

The Police personnel is divided into several positions:

• Role of Police Agents (three ranks: Employees, Guardsmen, Corporal): Agents are assigned executive duties as Agent of Public Security and Agent of Judicial Police, as well as any assignments of coordination of one or more agents operating. Police Agents are drawn from the conscripts, upon their request and within the pre-determined numbers. The rank of Police Guardsman is reserved for Police Employees who, having completed six years of service, are distinguished by their authority and professional capacity. The rank of Police Guardsman is a condition for promotion to Police Corporal. The Police Corporals are chosen from among the Guardsmen awarded with the active service continuation after the conscription, who have made good services, have maintained good conduct and a firm attitude; to be promoted they also need to be skilled and zealous in the service.
• Role of Sergeants (three ranks): Police Sergeants have executive functions, with the margin of initiative and discretion of the Officer of Judicial Police, as well as command functions of small police stations or small units.
• Role of Inspectors (two ranks): Personnel belonging to the Inspectors are assigned specific functions of public security and judicial police, particularly with regard to investigative activities, they also control functions of the operating units.
• Role of Officials (ten ranks).

Barrayaran police officials

The Police Official is the person who coordinates and directs operations. In the great majority of cases the role is bureaucratic and he must be careful that the procedures are correct and must struggle with police unions and the media. The Official is a shrewd manager of resources, both material and human, with a high level of responsibility. The commanding official must have as its main purpose the exploitation of the resources of the subordinate staff who works with-and-for-him and, in this sense, must be to achieve the maturation of the subject, stimulating participation and discussion, encouraging the comparison. In practice, he is a cog in the system, he (or she) must do what is ordered to do. The typical police official is dismissive and rude, benevolent but never kind with the subordinates, as diligent and cringing with his superiors, awkwardly virile, ready to describe people and recall facts with the uncritical and mechanical precision of a police report, telegraphic and times-addressing.
Police Officials are recruited with two alternative methods, designed in order to make the most varied culture and skills of officers. The requirement for first level college graduation is essential to ensure the release of the roles of the Officials of personnel with appropriate cultural background. The first method consists in the competition, by examinations, reserved for first-level graduates in Law or in Political Science: these candidates, upon graduation, earn the rank of Police Senior Commissioner. The age of the candidates have to be not above 25 years. The second method consists in the competition, by examinations, reserved for graduates aged 21 years. They start from the Police Academy, to learn the basic technical and professional knowledge and, in parallel, they attend a course at the Imperial University of Vorbarr Sultana, for the purpose of obtaining a degree in Law or in Political Science. The Police Academy differs from the military officers school both in duration and contents: Police Cadets, having completed the two-years mandatory military service as enlisted, have to learn only the riot control and policing techniques.
The Police Commissioner is a low rank, similar to a Ensign, although it does not arise only from a period in the military academy. Winners of the public competition are appointed Probationary Commissioners. The Probationary Commissioners who have passed the final exams are appointed full Police Commissioners. They take an oath and are admitted to the role of Officials. During the career, first assignments relate to the management of limitedly operational offices. So the young Police Commissioner may be assigned to the Car Patrol, or to a Riot unit, or subsections of larger offices, but always under the supervision of other senior officials.
The Police Chief Commissioner is usually the head of a District Unit, a subdivision of Sections, or the commander of a medium-low Captaincy. In Regional Detachments they can act as Sectional heads, and in important Captaincies they are the right hands of commanders, heading a Captaincy Division. Above all, the Chief Commissioner is the minimum rank at which an Official may be assigned to positions in the Department of Public Security or in the Ministry. Officials below the level of Chief Commissioner who work at the Department of Public Security are not Police Officials but they belong to the Administration of the Ministry.
The Police Councillor perform tasks involving autonomous decision-making responsibility and relevant expertise and are responsible for the direction of the offices which involve the exercise of the powers of local authorities of Public Security. Most Police Councillors have direction functions of the several organic units within the office or department which they are attached to. They can also command bodies not reserved for the higher rank, with full responsibility. The Police Councillor may be the Commander of a Riot Battalion, or the commander a very important Captaincy; in the District Commands he can manage a Section or be the vice-commander of a division. Promotion to Police Councillor is obtained by comparative merits which allowed the staff with the rank of Chief Commissioner for at least five years and six months of actual service.
The Police Senior Councillor is the most senior official who can assigned exclusively to the District level of operations. He can receive assignments as Deputy Director of Public Security, as well as commander of a division within the District Command, District Commander of a Specialised Command (Riot Police, Traffic Police, Monorail Police or Post Police), District Commander of the Scientific Police or commander of an air unit. Within the Ministry may be assigned to duties of deputy ministerial councillor.
The State Councillor Third Class can be charged with the service as "Director of Public Security", as Group Commander for Specialised Commands (Riot Police, Traffic Police, Monorail Police or Post Police) or as Deputy Director of the Police Officials Academy or Sectional Director at the Advanced Institute of Police. Within the Ministry, a State Councillor 3rd Class may serve as Inspector General or additional ministerial councillor.
The State Councillor Second Class can be assigned to important positions, such as Commander of Specialized Command as and Director of a Police Division, Chief Inspector General or as Commander of Special Office of Public Security. Within the Ministry, he can direct a Central Directorate of the Department or act as Ministerial Councillor.
The rank of State Councillor of First Class gives access to important and prestigious tasks and positions. State Councillors of First Class and Actual State Councillors compose the Committee on the career progression of Officials and State Councillors, together with the President of the Police Headquarters in charge of the Imperial Police Force and the Vice President at the Police headquarters.

Last but certainly not least there is the Actual State Councillor, which is the highest police-only rank. Actual State Councillors command the most important central Divisions and are involved in managing the Department directorates.

Officials' rank/post corrispondence

Rank|Post	Territorial IPF			Riot Command	Central IPF	Scientific Police	Department of Public Security	Ministry of Interior
	District Command	Regional Command	Local Command
Police Commissioner	Unit member	Unit member	Large Police Station	Usually not assigned	Office member	Usually undergoing specific training		-
Police Senior Commissioner		Regional Unit head	Captaincy/Precinct Section Commander	Platoon leader		Technician		-
Police Chief Commissioner	District Unit chief	Regional Section head	Captaincy/Precinct Divisional head	Company Commander				-
Police Councillor	District Section chief	Depurty Regional Command	Captaincy/Precinct Commander	Battalion Commander		Regional chief		-
Police Senior Councillor	District Division chief, Vice-Command	Regional Command		District Garrison Commander	Office chief	District Commander		Deputy Ministerial Councillor
State Councillor of Third Class	District Director of P.S.	-		Group Chief of Staff	Directorate head	Group Commander	SOCA Division	Inspector General/Additional Ministerial Councillor
State Councillor of Second Class	Commander of Special Office of P.S.			Group Commander	Sectional Head		Head of the SOCA	Chief Inspector General/Ministerial Councillor
State Councillor of First Class	Group Commander			Deputy Commander	Head of a minor Division		Directorate deputy head
Actual State Councillor	-			Commander	Head of a major Division		Department Directorate
Vice President of Department							Department deputy head
President of Department	Chief of Department of Public Security and Chief of the Imperial Police Force
Minister of the Interior	Head of the whole Ministry

Self-description and relationships with the external social environment

It is rare that, when a member of the Imperial Police Force commits a crime, fellow officers raise critical voices on the work of their colleagues. The attitude of coverage and justification tends to almost always prevail. The dominant self-representation is that of the police officer poorly paid and in the front line to protect citizens. Lack of men, staffing cuts, parked cars for lack of fuel or awaiting repairs for which there is no money, forced and unpaid overtime turns. The violent behaviour at the limit of legality fit into the category of acceptable practices, or at least justifiable, in the profession of Policeman.
Whit regard to the relationship with the public opinion, the policeman is the symbol of order and of its solidity, perceived as superior, rigid, unforgiving; he is the soldier to admire for the elegance of his uniform, the guardian of justice, the gendarme to fear for his severity, shaped in turn by the popular consciousness according to the needs of the moment, but always caught as armed arm of the monarchy and power. Policemen are expected to exhibit impassivity, detachment from any kind of event, even of patriotic character. The image of aloofness, sobriety and composure can not be tarnished, even minimally, even expressing patriotism.
The police must, as a rule, know it all, but not be familiar with anyone. In place of employment, the policeman must avoid friendships, and because the excessive confidence can turn into appeasement, and because the privileged relations can suggest an idea of ​​bias in the performance of their duties, especially in small towns. Calls for convivial parties (without showing an inappropriate, and at times provocative, rejection) must be declined because the public authority should not be confused with the private sector. All the more reason you should avoid the emotional ties to the places of service, opportunities for gossip, tension and conditioning and, in the worst case, blackmail.
Policemen must conform to a type of very austere life; They have to avoid to declare their political orientations, in order to avoid being exploited; They should not even be touched by the suspicion that he had taken some operational decision influenced by friends or, worse, from any form of corruption. Any type of relationship must inform themselves on the principles of discretion and confidentiality, in the consciousness that the interview with the public is functional only to the acquisition of news and not to create bonds of friendship. All members of the IPF are required to exemplary conduct to safeguard the prestige of the Imperial Police Force. The romantic relationships with the local population are prohibited by the Disciplinary Regulations, because they violate the obligation of contemptuous behaviour in private life. Cohabitation outside of marriage are similarly prohibited if they are adversely commented upon in public, especially of the couple does not have its own children.

Organization

The Imperial Police Force is a decentralized force, although with some central commands for specialist units. The main agency within the Imperial Police Force is the Central Command, which is tasked with the overall coordination.

Central Command

At the top of the Imperial Police Force, there is a Central Command. It is the command, coordination and control body of all activities of the Force. The Central Command consists of the Chief of Imperial Police, the Deputy Chief and Chief of Staff, together with the Central Committee.
The Imperial Police Force is headed in a de jure sense by the President of the Department of Public Security, however, although he sets the general policy direction of Barrayar's stance towards law and order, the Vice President of Department of Public Security and Deputy Chief of Imperial Police Force is the day-to-day head of the force. Underneath the Vice President of Department of Public Security and Deputy Chief of Imperial Police Force is the Assistant Chief of Police (ranking Actual State Councillor), whose role is largely advisory. Regular meetings are also held with the heads of the main divisions of the Imperial Police Force and with the Central Committee.
Equal in rank to the Chief of Staff are the General Inspectors of Southern and Northern Halves, who have under their jurisdiction the District services.

Corps Staff

The Police Staff is commanded by Chief of Staff, assisted by the Deputy Chief of Staff. The Chief of the Staff directs and coordinates the work of various departments, shall submit to the Chief of Police the various issues, giving relevant particulars of the proceedings and decide the ones for which has been delegated by the Chief of Police and the same exercise in respect of staff of the Central Command of the duties of commander of the body.

Central Committee of Imperial Police

The Central Committee has the function of an organ offer to the Central Command, whose opinions, while not binding, leading to a substantial motivation in the case of inconsistent decisions, therefore non limiting the command action does not , but reinforcing the belief. The Central Committee expresses its opinion mandatory but not binding, the following subjects:

• Organization, recruitment, training and operations;
• Planning and Budget;
• Use of personnel;
• Allocation of human, economic and technological resources;
• Coordination and organization;
• Police Special Information Wing.

Air Service

The organization of the Air Service includes all persons, aircraft, equipment, technical support and logistic infrastructures, whose primary function is to complement and enhance preventive action and control of land developed by the departments operating on the ground. It works in connection with the military Orbital Traffic Control Command (OTC-COM).

General Affairs Division

The Division for General Affairs (IPD-DGA) carries out the services related to the organization and general administration. The DGA takes care of organizing and planning the equipment staff and resources of the police, also planning the deployment of territorial police and technical services. The Division must also take care of the planning of the technical and logistic resources for adaptation and strengthening of structures and liaises with the Central Inspection Office, analysing the results and promoting the consequent measures.
The Division is divided into seven Sections and an independent Office:

• General Affairs Section (IPF-DGA1): It deals with the general affairs and provides the secretariat to the ad hoc committees, and manages the administrative activities that result are not the responsibility of other Divisions or other Offices. The Section is therefore the general issues and manages the archives of the police and access to administrative documents. Since the Imperial Police Force is a civilian organization, it ensures the safety of workplaces and directs civil litigation.
• Equipment and Ceremonial Affairs Section (IPF-DGA2): the Section deals with matters relating to the flag, uniforms, decorations and distinctive marks. It organizes ceremonies, festivals and celebrations and takes care of related administrative tasks.
• Support and Welfare Section (IPF-DGA3): The Support and Welfare Section takes care of the staff of the Imperial Police, ex-policemen and their families, even in the organization of social, tourist and cultural activities. In turn, the SWS is divided into three Offices:
  • Fallen in Service Office: the Office organizes and directs the individual care interventions in favour of the Fallen in Service, Victims of terrorism Victims of Crime. These measures include subsidies for surviving family members. The Office also provides organizational support at major events in honour of the fallen in the service;
  • General Assistance Office: the Office of the care allowances for the benefit of the children of Police Personnel suffering from serious diseases. The Office provides free stays and studies, and scholarships for deserving students. The assistance includes the provision of financial assistance for those in serious financial difficulties;
  • Collective Assistance Office: the Office manages the holiday centres reserved for the Police, the bar in the office, the Officials Clubs and after work activities.
• Accounting Section (IPF-DGA4): Manages the expenditure items within the jurisdiction of the Division.
• State Security Section (IPF-DGA5): Manages the state security affairs which regard the Imperial Police Force.

Division of Criminal Police

The Division of Criminal Police (IPF-DCP) is the cornerstone branch of the Imperial Police Force. The Division has among its tasks the coordination of investigations of police at the global level , particularly with regard to research and capture the most dangerous fugitives and mafia-type criminal organizations. In order to achieve this goal, the Division collects, analyses and processes the data and information and oversees the co-operation with other police forces of the Empire.
The Division is also responsible for managing collaborators of justice and the general coordination of prevention and control of the territory. In addition, it provides support to technical and scientific investigative bodies and the Judicial Authority in the conduct of investigations that require the use of specific skills. Being the branch most focused on high importance criminal activities, it is the body which relates with the Serious Organized Crime Agency and therefore operate the high-level criminal intelligence.
The Division of Criminal Police is headed by a State Councillor First Class, which also provides links between the other offices, departments, and police structures. He also coordinates the activities carried out by the Division of Anti-Drug Services. It is worth to note that the chief of the Division of Criminal Police, although directing only the Division of CP, outranks all but two policemen, i.e. the Vice President at the Police Headquarters (who is in charge of the Imperial Police Force) and the chief of the Department of Public Security.
The Division of Criminal Police is subdivided into three independent Offices and seven Sections.

• Office of General Affairs
• Office of Legal and Litigation Affairs
• Office of Secretariat and Cooperation
• Protection Section
• Crime Analysis Section
• Financial crime Section
• Races and Games Section
• Central Operational Section
• Territory Control Section
• Scientific Police and Forensics Section

Protection Section

The Protection Section (IPF-DCP1) implements special programs of protection and assistance to witnesses and other persons protected. The assistance programs include reintegration into social and working context. The Section also maintains relations with the Judicial and Public Security, as well as with all the other ministries involved in the implementation of protective measures. The Section is divided into 64 District Operational Offices, 1 Special Operational Office in Vorbarr Sultana and, in the Northern Continent, 4 Liaison Offices. The Section also consists of 4 directorates, which in turn consist of offices.

• Directorate 1: General Affairs, Personnel Affairs, Secretariat operational, legal affairs, medical support, psychological support;
• Directorate 2: Witnesses, Special and Temporary Programs
• Directorate 3: Collaborators of Justice
• Directorate 4: Administration and accounting, financial and economic issues

Crime Analysis Section

The Crime Analysis Section (IPF-DCP2) is the centre for the coordination of anti-crime information and strategic analysis on criminal phenomena. The section is divided into three divisions, divided into sections, operates in constant relationship with the facilities of the Department of Public Security and other police forces.

• Directorate 1 - Analysis and Study: The Directorate deals with the analysis integrated strategic, and consists of three offices: Strategic Crime Analysis Office , Strategic Studies Office and Research and Development Methodology Office.
• Directorate 2 - Inter-agency Relations: The Directorate is in charge of external relations, and keeps in touch with the Department and with other police forces. It consists of two offices: Inter-agency Projects Office and Office Archives.
• Directorate 3 - Statistical Analysis and Support: The Directorate deals with the statistical analysis and support of computer networks of the Section. It consists of three offices: Office of Analysis, Office of External Relations and Support Office.

Financial Crime Section

The Financial Crime Section (IPF-DCP3) is responsible for the prevention and repression of specialized crime. In this capacity, she is responsible for intelligence collection, analysis and strategic relationships with administrations concerned and contributes to the assessment of the threat posed by criminal organizations. The Financial Crime Section is the liasion element with the Serious Organized Crime Agency for what regards the Southern Continent and, due to the interconnected nature of communications, for certain aspects for what regards the entire planet. Being responsible for the coordination of the central offices of the judicial police, it includes three autonomous Offices and five Directorates:

• General Affairs Office
• Analysis and Coordination Office (ACO): it is the Office responsible for implementation of the strategic analysis carried out by the Crime Analysis Section.
• Research and National Investigations Office (RANIO)
• Operational Logistics Directorate (OLD), which includes the Criminal Assets Identification Office (CAIO);
• Financial and Tax Investigations Directorate (FaTID), which the following are placed in:
  • Financial Crime Office (FinCO);
  • Anti-Corruption Office (ACO), in liasion with the Ministry of Protection of Imperial Loyalty;
  • Tax Delinquency Office (TaDO);
• Suppression of Counterfeiting Currency Directorate (SCOCUD), which includes the Suppression of industrial and artistic counterfeits Office (SIACO);
• Suppression of Large Financial Crime Directorate (SULAFCRID);
• Fight against information technology Directorate (FAITED) which includes the Counterfeiting Payment Instruments Office (COPAIO) as its elite unit.

Races and games Section

The Section of Races and Games (IPF-DCP4) is responsible for the supervision of gambling establishments, racetracks, horse and sports pairs and games related to new technologies. It has a mission administrative police and judicial police. It ensures compliance with the regularity and fairness of games, whatever they are, and player protection and defence of the interests of the State, and make the administrative investigations within the regulatory domain of games. Section of the races and games is composed of four Directorates:

• Legal Affairs and Observatory on Games Directorate (LAOGAD) which includes the Races and Games Infringements Office (RAGIO), responsible for suppressing minor offences in the field of games and fight against clandestine or illegal gambling, as well the Observatory on Games which provides aid and assistance to the RAGIO in suppressing the activity of datasphere gambling.
• Casinos and Circles General Surveillance Directorate (CACISURD) which includes the Control Studies Office (COSO), primarily responsible for technical and regulatory checks on casinos and investigating submitted cases and the Monitoring Objectives Office (MONOBO), focusing on administrative penalties against players. The MONOBO is also responsible for ensuring compliance of games in gaming circles. The Directorate also participates in all the revision of the regulation of games in casinos. In this context, the expertise of the Directorates is harnessed to ensure compliance with such laws and regulations on the prevention of money laundering and control of financial flows on automated instruments.
• Races Directorate (RAD), with a Licensing and Operational Analysis Office (LIOANO) and a Risk Prevention Office (RIPRO) which focuses on equestrian matters, prior administrative investigations authorizations to run, drive and ride. These can only be issued after a favourable opinion of the Directorate. The Directorate is also responsible for punishing race offences and is responsible for collecting information on the racing industry, its players and their families.
• Logistics and Operational Coordination Directorate (LOPECOD), which includes the General Documentation Office (GEDO), Training Squad and Resources and Vehicles Office (REVEO). The Directorate organizes training on the regulation of games for the sectional personnel and for races and games territorial services or judges.

Central Operational Section

The Central Operational Section (IPF-DCP5) is the top body for the police investigation at the planetary level. It is engaged in the fight against organized crime, including the infiltration into sectors of economy. The area of ​​intervention concerns investigations in a coordinated manner, with direct participation, in the most serious criminal phenomena and the development of operational analysis and consequent strategies to combat it. The Section collaborates often with the SOCA. The Section is divided into four directorates:

• The First Directorate coordinates the activities of the contrast to organized crime and the capture of the most dangerous fugitives. It contributes directly to the investigations conducted by the district Detective Divisions in cases of particular complexity and of kidnappings;
• The Second Directorate coordinates the activities of district divisions to counter the foreign organized social organized crime, narcos, the facilitation of illegal immigration, trafficking in persons. The Directorate is also in charge of the most significant forms of common crime, serial killings and research of the most dangerous fugitives. Both Unsolved Crimes Office and Behavioural Analysis Office are placed under the Second Directorate.
• The Third Directorate carries out the work of technical support investigative activities, providing advanced technical tools and specialized professionals.
• The Analysis Directorate deals with the analysis of data and information on the dynamics of criminality, for the planning of the subsequent strategies of prevention and response. The Anti-Cults Office operates within the Analysis Directorate.

Division of Scientific Police and Forensics

The Division of Scientific Police (IPF-DSF) is the centralized structure which intervenes when particular expertise in the field of the natural sciences is required. The Division manages the Cabinets of Scientific Police (interprovincial and provincial levels) and Signalling and Documentation Posts. The Division is centrally organized into four Sections, in turn subdivided into five or six Offices each:

• General and Legal Affairs Office;
• Section I - General Affairs and Support:
  • General and Personnel Affairs Office; Resources Office; Training Office; Technical Support and Violent Crime Analysis Office; Forensics and Criminology-Applied Psychology Office; Information Systems Office;
• Section II - Identification services;
• Section III - Chemical and Electronic Investigations;
• Section IV - Ballistic and Biological Investigations.

The Division of Scientific Police directs 65 District Cabinets of Scientific Police. The District Cabinets have jurisdiction with regard to the photo-signalling, the Inspection of the Scientific Police, the electronic documentation in investigative services and the services of public policy, the design of the face in order to produce the identification report and technical and scientific investigations. They also have responsibility about the regeneration of the abraded serial numbers, documents and drugs examination.
The Regional Cabinets of Scientific Police are established in every Regional Detachment, with the exception of the District Command, where there is already the District Cabinet and are framed into the Anti-Crime Division. They have specific responsibility to carry out the Inspection of the Scientific Police and photographic identification. The activity of the provincial cabinets, if necessary, is coordinated by the leaders of District Cabinets, which are directly involved in directing the operations of particular gravity. he Signalling and documentation Posts are located at the Captaincies or Precincts particularly involved in combating crime and protecting public order and security. They have specific responsibility to carry out the technical inspection and photographic identification.
In addition to the four operational Sections, the Scientific Police Institute is manned and operated by the Division, although is placed under the Training Command.

Division for Training and Education

The Division for Training and Education (IPF-DTE) is the structure responsible for education and training of all police personnel, ranging from the lowest Agent to the highest police official. Although the Imperial Police Force is a paramilitary organization, it is still a civilian agency, and relies on the Imperial Service basic training for the military aspects. The Imperial Police Force, due to its size, is also the main provider of police training to a number of other agencies: the Space Surveillance Command, the Service Security, the Internal Troops and the Special Corps of Gendarmes, as well as Northern Districts police forces (upon their request). Given its importance, the Training Division is also tasked with the co-ordination of the training structures of both Komarran Security Forces and Sergyaran Police Service.
Directly under the Division there are several educational facilities and campuses, spread over the Southern Continent and in the Vorbarra District.

Police Academy

Police Officials are the chain of command upper echelon, and therefore there is a special attention paid to these professional figures. The main institution is the Imperial Police Academy, which provides training courses for the two alternative programs available, as well as more specific educational facilities. As a general rule, the first level college graduation is required for all personnel belonging to the Officials' category: this is in order to ensure the release of the roles of the Officials of personnel with appropriate cultural background.
The ordinary course (formally known as "Normal Course") is reserved for high school-graduate aged up to 21 years who have completed the compulsory military service; these candidates attend the one year and half long training course, where they are instructed to carry out general police services, investigations, riot control services and unit management activities, in a sort of shortened military officers school. After the completion, they are assigned as Police Commissioners to operational or administrative units, where they are entitled to continue with university studies, attending, in parallel, a course at the Imperial University of Vorbarr Sultana, for the purpose of obtaining a degree in Law or in Political Science.
The Special Course is for those have completed both the mandatory military service and the first-level college graduation, thus being up to 25 years old. After the graduation at Police Academy, they earn the rank of Police Senior Commissioner and are posted to relevant police units or agencies.
The basic objective of the Imperial Student Police Officials Academy is the training of future officers through the Application courses (lasting three years, Normal Course) and Applicative courses (six-month, addressed to the Officers of the Special Special Course), which are associated with the update on the legal and professional matters through the career. The school performs also the functions of the think tank, serving as a pilot institution for research and development of professional issues. The Academy also produces a scientific-professional quarterly, the "Police Review". The Academy has always had close relations and exchanges with foreign institutions and with the Imperial Service.
The Academy consists of:

• Director of the Academy;
• Central Office, which assists and advises the Director of the Academy in the operation of ordinary activities and planning of complex issues;
• Institute of Professional Studies and Law, established with the aim of ensuring a better coordination of the educational activity;
  • Professional Techniques Chair;
  • Staff Service Chair;
  • Investigative Techniques Chair;
  • Computer Science Chair;
  • Administration and Commissariat Chair;
• Logistics Chair;
  • Athletic Activities Section
• Courses Department, which handles the framing of visitors, contributing to moral, ethical and hierarchical education.

Scientific Police Institute

The Institute of Scientific Police was established back in 2895 as Technical Course, in order to provide a good training facility for the police forces which had a scientific police/forensics unit. With an evolving pattern, it still provides scientific and forensics training not only to the Imperial Police Forces, but also to the other Barrayar-based law enforcement agencies. Under the jurisdiction of the Institute there are also the various specialized schools, such as the School of Legal Medicine, the Criminal Psychology Centre, and others.
The Institute consists of several courses (changing every year) and of two education types: the Long Course, designed for personnel permanently assigned to scientific police, and the Brief Course, intended for personnel who requires a summary and elementary comprehension of scientific police needs and elements.

Territorial Organization

A Police Guardsman of the territorial police in winter uniform for armed services. These services are the least common among those performed by the Imperial Police Force. Only manhunts, checkpoints, round-ups and dangerous searches require these garments.

The territorial organization is the heart of activity. It is organized hierarchically:

• 17 Group Commands, headed by State Councillors, 1st class, with control functions in respect of the District Commands. The Group Command is responsible for coordinating and monitoring all departments in the area of responsibility, even outside the chain of command area. The Group Command performs control functions for all services not expressly outside its responsibility.
• 64 District Commands established in each District capital town with control functions for subordinate units
  • Regional Detachments and a variable number of Captaincies and Precincts: each Territorial Department corresponds to an administrative Region, each Captaincy is in charge for an Arrondissement and each Precinct is in charge for a Municipality.
  • District Services and Judiciary Division
  • District Detective Division
  • District Mobile Radio Unit - Auto patrol
  • Police Stations, the most basic unit, spread locally throughout the country with direct responsibility for territorial control

District Command

The District Command is an office of the Police, with jurisdiction over the District, under the Ministry of the Interior. Its primary task is to ensure the maintenance of order and public safety within the district. A constant activity for the prevention and suppression of crime is carried out for the achievement of this goal. The District Commands have also responsibilities for the personnel management and direction, coordination and control function of the Territorial Departments. While the District Commands are the investigating and coordinating authorities, they are a non-immediate police level; subordinate units, like Territorial Departments, Precincts and Companies are the police authorities which people interacts with.

Director of Public Security

District Commands are headed State Councillor, 3rd class, who hold the position of District Director of Public Security.
The Director is the district authority of the public security, dependent on the High Sheriff. He is the responsible and coordinator of the Police employed in services aimed to ensure public order and public security. He is also a member of the District Committee for Order and Public Security. In addition, activities in the field of police authorization, possession of weapons, emigration and immigration competing at him, then he is the owner of the whole of the Offices of Public Safety.
The Vice Director is a Police Senior Councillor which ensures the replacement of the Director during his absence. In addition, the Vice Director personally oversees several offices of the District Command and the most delicate public order activities. Finally, he presides over some important working committees such as the District Council of Discipline, the District Commission for Explosives and participates in the Public Entertainment District Commission chaired by Vice Governor. As a general rule, officials who take this position are Senior Police Councillors close to the higher rank.

District Detective Division

The District Detective Division is an office, framed within each District Command, tasked with performing investigations duties. The Division is usually headed by a Police Senior Councillor, according to the needs.
The Department therefore leads investigations to identify those responsible for the crimes and the collection of the relevant sources of evidence. The agents operate almost exclusively in plain clothes. The activity of the Division is solely and exclusively the detective work, which is mainly devoted to law enforcement action, while the activity of prevention is normally delegated to other offices. Each Detective Division is structured around ten sections headed by Police Councillors, each specializing in a particular category of offences and in turn it is divided into Units, headed by a Chief Commissioner:

• 1st Section: General Affairs
• 2nd Section: Organized Crime
• 3rd Section: Foreign Crime
• 4th Section: Offences against the person
  • Psychic Crimes and Crisis Unit: this team of police officers and psychiatrists respond to bizarre and frightening crises and solve cases involving emotionally disturbed criminals, victims and/or witnesses.
• 5th Section: Vice
• 6th Section: Offences against property
• 7th Section: Offences against the Public Administration (works with the MoPIL)
  • Offences in the sphere of the consumer market and the execution of the administrative law Unit
• 8th Section: Anti-Crime
• 9th Section: Drug and Narcotics
• 10th Section: Fugitives

In smaller Divisions, some Sections are merged.

General Prevention Division

The Prevention Division is responsible for the general supervision and control of priority activities on the whole territory. Through continuous patrol, it ensures the security of the first and immediate response to the needs of citizens. As part of the Division operate Sections "Patrol Cars" and "Neighbourhood Police".

Patrol Ground cars Section

The Patrol Ground cars Section, a section of the General Prevention Division, is headed by an Police official, and is present in each District Command. The same service performed by personnel of Regional Detachments and Precincts is instead defined as "Radio Ground cars". Patrol Ground cars Sections are in direct contact with citizens in the cities; directed by radio from the Operating Centre of their District, the patrol cars get involved to any request for assistance received by the public emergency number 111. For this reason, the operators of the patrol car and the radio car must be able to face any type of intervention.
For each turn there are two or more patrol cars, depending on the size of the city; each patrol car is assigned a specific and precise area to be covered. Each turn is headed by an Inspector Coordinator, who is responsible for the entire round, it is he who, at the beginning of turn, decides crews, sectors to assign and what patrol cars which have to carry out the services other than emergency (watches fixed, picketing, treatments of arrested / stopped, exchange rates, etc..).
The patrol Ground cars, in addition to the repression service, they also are entrusted of prevention service. The police patrol crews, who know their area of jurisdiction and the people who habitually frequents, observe carefully what is around them while patrolling the area, and this observation allows both to intervene promptly in case of need and to deter potential attackers.

Territorial control

Below District Commands there are some other Police authorities and fractional commands: Regional Detachments, Captaincies, which organize Stations, and Precincts. While Captaincies and Precincts carry on autonomous existence and operations, Stations are scaler commands, with limited capabilities. The Regional Detachments are headed by a Police Senior Councillor. They are demultiplexers organs for functions of management, coordination and control vested in District Commands. Their jurisdiction encompasses an administrative Region and co-ordinate subordinate units, without having a significant role in police operational activities but helping to co-ordinate large but low-importance investigations.

• Police Precinct: The Police Precinct is a structure of the administration of the Police, framed in the territorial organization of the District Command. It is the representation on the territory of the District Command: within every Precinct are present, albeit in a more restricted form and adapted to the needs of the territory, the same offices and services available in the District Command. Precincts of Public Security are found only in densely populated medium-sized centres. The Precinct Commander also assumes the functions of Local Authority of Public Security. The Precinct is directed by a police officer with the rank of Police Chief Commissioner or Police Councillor. Within the Precinct, like the District Command, typically there are facilities at which the citizen can carry out different practices of administrative police. There is also the "Anti-Crime Squad", which it is possible make the most of the possible actions of a legal nature with.
• Police Captaincy: The Police Captaincy is responsible for an Arrondissiment and directs the activities of a variable number of stations and have their organs, which provide for the emergency response in 26 hours, fight local crime. The Captaincies are controlled by a Police Chief Commissioner or a Police Senior Commissioner.

The Director of Public Security in the District Capital, Regional Detachment Commanders in their municipality and the officials in charge of Precincts and Captaincies are Local Authorities of Public Security.

Territorial Police Station

The Territorial Police Station is the primary operating unit of the Imperial Police Forces, articulated on the organic forces ranging from a minimum of 4 to over 20 policemen for sensitive locations. They are commanded by a Master Sergeant Major or by a Warrant Officer 1. The Station is responsible for a very specific area: large portions of a major civilian infrastructure or city, or one or more settled areas, mainly very rural. The station is the central element of territorial control and the main instrument for territorial garrison. They are located in buildings specially constructed or upgraded in order to promote an effective defence. The premises of the station include a security prison, a chamber of discipline, a kitchen and a dining hall, housing the commander, one double room every two agents, and, if married, one for each room and a garage.
The Station Commander is responsible for direct control of the territory and for related institutional activities, including the permanent and immediate training of Police Corporals and lower ranks; he is also both the enforcer and the example of discipline. The Southern Continent is so carefully covered by the dense network of Territorial Police Stations, which are also the custodians of the first task of protecting public order and safety within the area they encompass. The Station performs all the functions of judicial police, security police and administrative police are proper to the specific situation and has the immediate direction of police service within his jurisdiction, where carries out investigations.
The garrison duty is exercised also by visiting local municipalities, rural communities and non-autonomous settlements, local fairs, public meetings and shows as well by constantly keeping aware of events, facts and local circumstances.
Being a Substitute Officer of Public Security, the Station Commander intervenes in public and private disputes, exercising all initiatives to take appropriate preventive measures against socially dangerous people.
Stations are divided into three distinct categories according their importance:

• 1st category: the stations are locaded in aereas with a lower operational focus and a less open to the public 10 hours per day.
• 2nd category: the stations are located in areas which have a greater operational focus and are prepared to receive the public 16 hours a day distributed in 2 shifts from 07.00 to 23.00.
• 3rd category: the stations are those of crucial importance and cover the entire 26.7 hours through the system of shifts.

Stations are divided into three distinct categories according their location:

• Capital Stations: they are the stations located in the same barracks of a higher command. These stations are located in the capital cities;
• Urban stations: they are in the same Municipality of higher command, but in a different barracks. These stations are located in large cities;
• Detached Stations: all other stations. More frequently than not, Detached Stations belong to the 1st Category, of the least concern.

However, each station is permanently manned. The most experienced non-commissioned officers are assigned to the command of the 3rd category stations, while the criterion of seniority determines the positions of command in the 2nd and 1st category. The stations according to their own staff can organize organize territorial mobile patrols, although not required to do so.

Mobile Station

File:Mobile Station IPF.png

Mobile stations are large vehicles, capable of accommodating up to five policemen and five civilians.

The Mobile Station is a vehicle equipped to perform on the spot all the typical functions of a barracks, with a production of "travelling office" to allow, in real time, receiving complaints and reports from citizens who can not travel at the local Territorial Police Station. The Mobile Station can also be a reference point for the detachment of foot patrols in areas of interest. The mobile station is used as an effective tool to ensure the flexibility of control of the territory, especially in large urban areas and in those with a higher crime rate.
Tasks typically entrusted to mobile stations are to integrate the control of fixed garrisons; also can support the technical and investigative activities in the case of investigations of crimes and establish garrisons surveillance in locations remain without public facilities as a result of disasters or natural disasters. The crew of the mobile stations is made of a Sergeant and of four to five policemen, one of whom is also the driver.
The Mobile Station is a large and pretty elephantine vehicle derived from commercial vans (currently the commercial van HERDER-456S2), it is unarmed and not very suitable to make chases or long patrols in the city streets. Nevertheless, it is a reassuring signal to law-abiding citizens and a challenge for organized crime.

Vorbarr Sultana Group Command

The regular police of the Vorbarr Sultana Group Command, officially and commonly styled as The His Majesty's Own Vorbarr Sultana Municipal Guard, number some 60,000. Of great relevance are the Vorbarr Sultana District Mobile Group. There are over 3,000 riot policemen. Their equipment is the classic engines of riot repression, but they are also trained and if need be armed for fully-fledged urban combat.
Due to the peculiar area of responsibility, the Vorbarr Sultana Group Command is organized along unique criteria.
The current Lord Commander of Municipal Guard is Lord Kyrill Vorbohn, the fourth one of his family to assume the position. He assumed her post in 3001, replacing Lord Charles Vorreedi. The rank of the Lord Commander of Municipal Guard is State Councillor of First Class, unlike other Group Commanders.

Surveillance Team

In every government building there is a surveillance team, in charge of monitoring and protecting the building, and ensuring the security services within it. Usually, it is the only uniformed force in government buildings; Internal Troops officers who are assigned or detached to government assistance wear civilian clothes, while during emergencies uniformed troops are allowed. The Surveillance Teams vary in size according to the type of administrative district.

• District: Surveillance Company (200 men of 4 shifts);
• Region: Surveillance Platoon (50-60 men on 4 shifts);
• Arrondissement and Municipalities: Surveillance Section (20 men of 4 shifts);
• Local Rural Communities: Surveillance Squad (10 men on 2 shifts).

Specialised Commands

Within the Imperial Police Force there are seven major Specialised Commands (SPEC-COM). These Commands are national subdivisions of the Imperial Police Force, and have the same jurisdiction boundaries of the Group Commands, depending directly on the President of Police Headquarters. Each SPEC-COM is headed by a State Councillor Second Class, and has Group subdivision one level lower than ordinary ones, in order to keep Specialised Commands within the chain of command. The four Specialised Commands are: Riot Police, Traffic Police, Monorail Police, Post Police, Orbital and Space Police, Power Plants Police, Anti-Banditry Police and Environmental Police.

Traffic Police Command

The Traffic Police Command (SPEC-COM 1) is the traffic-law enforcement branch and road safety administration of Barrayar. The organization patrols Barrayar's roads and highways and responds to major accidents. Due to the relatively small development of street network, only in recent years it has been separated from the Monorail Command.

Monorail Police Command

The Monorail Police Command (SPEC-COM 2) ensures law enforcement and public order in relation to monorail routes. The monorail service is performed in two areas: prevention and suppression of crime on trains and in stations. It is also tasked with preventing espionage and sabotage of railway property. Territory is guarded by the Command:

• 17 Monorail Group Commands
  • 64 Monorail District Sections
  • 130 Subsections
  • 339 Detachment
  • 1,030 Stations

Riot Police Command

The Riot Police Command (SPEC-COM 3) is the ImpPolFor Specialized Command responsible for safeguarding public order and public security in the contest of civil protection or riot control operations. Its function is to ensure public order, at the present state and perspective. The Riot Police is in charge of directing and employing all mobile units and subordinate commands and interacts with the Interior Troops Barrayaran Garrison. In order to fulfil these tasks, the Command employs 212,545 policemen in operational duties, while it is led by an Actual State Councillor. It has two main components:

• Riot Police Central Command (RIP-CENTCOM): The Command provides the logistical coordination of all units and operational direction of the central reserve forces. The Central Reserve Forces are specially trained and have the best equipment available. Their function is to provide reinforcement and support to District Battalions, both for issues of public order and the for tasks of civil protection, in order to establish an independent manoeuvre mass. The strength of the CRF and of rest of RIP-CENTCOM is of 46,145 men, with 56 Battalions belonging to the Central Reserve Forces; the remaining 1,345 men are the proper command elements. The Central Reserve Forces are employed to support Garrisons when major events or disasters occur.
  • Central Reserve Forces: The Central Reserve Forces are the elite units of the Barrayaran Riot Police. The main stated purpose is crowd control and riot suppression especially during mass public events (demonstrations, parades, sport or concert events, etc.), or in places of increased criminal activity as part of the fight against organized crime. The Central Reserve Forces have also been assigned to provide protective custody of certain individuals, such as witnesses in criminal trials. The Central Reserve Forces are distinguished by their maroon berets, an honorary headgear. The Special Action Companies are riot police units which are specially trained to deal with the events of exceptional importance. The companies are organized on ad-hoc basis, by drawing personnel from the Central Reserve Forces, specially trained and integrated with elements taken from the Imperial Service. The idea behind the Special Action Companies is that there is an insuperable limit in the management of public order, after which the "citizen" becomes an "enemy".
• Riot Group Command: the 64 District Garrisons are grouped into 16 Riot Group Commands, headed by State Councillors, 3rd Class with local command and control functions.
• Riot District Garrisons, which provide the operational guidance to the ordinary Riot units, with ordinary responsibility limited to their District, on request of the Director of Public Security. Each Riot District Garrison consists of three Riot Battalions and, in total, Garrisons consist of 192 Battalions (i.e. 153,600 men). The Garrison Commander is a Police Senior Councillor. If needed, Garrisons can detach troops to support other Garrisons which have to deal with extraordinary events.

Riot Battalions are the basic operational units, mostly located in Southern Continent Districts capital cities. Battalions protect public order and provide regular assistance during natural disasters. The basic unit is the team of nine elements commanded by a Police Sergeant. The complex unit is a company composed of 20 teams and of the vehicles platoon (for a total of 250 men): three Companies and a Command and Support Platoon make a Battalion, which is commanded by a Police Councillor.

Riot Group Command

Riot Group Commands are detachments gathered on Group Command basis (i.e. each responsible for 8 Districts), consisting of several sub-units, located in the headquarters of the Group Commands but dependent on the RIP-CENTCOM. Group Riot units are higher trained than District Garrisons and and have better equipment available. Their function is to provide reinforcement and support to District Garrisons when it is not necessary to receive reinforcements by the Central Reserve Forces. In each Riot Group Command is present an Administrative and Support Battalion, organized on the same guidelines of Administrative Office and Support Company of the District Garrisons. The operational arm of each Riot Group Command are the two Alert Battalions. Each Alert Battalion is organized as it follows:

• Command platoon
• Headquarters and staff company with: 1 signals platoon, 1 engineer platoon, 1 chemical platoon, 1 reconnaissance platoon, 1 transport platoon, 1 supply platoon, 1 medical section
• Four Public Order companies: one mechanized company in wheeled armoured personnel carriers and three motorized companies in armoured trucks. All Companies are equipped and trained for riot duties, but they can operate in anti-guerilla warfare.
• Support company: 1 anti-tank platoon, 1 artillery platoon, 1 mortar platoon

Student Agents in Public Order

Student agents and Cadet NCOs may, exceptionally, be employed in the service of public order at the behest of the Central Command. In these exceptional cases, a certain number of Cadets are requested to each School to be sent. Obviously they must be already sworn officers. The various School Company decide who send. The more difficult the event is, the more people need to be sent. Those who may have special needs makes present and is not considered in the search for volunteers to go, the others volunteer. If volunteers are more than the students needed, the Company Commander decides who to send; if volunteers are not enough to fill the requirements, the Commander finds other "volunteers".

Power Plant Command

The Power Plant Command (SPEC-COM 4) is a police command responsible for providing law enforcement and security at or within 5 km of any relevant power plant site and for related materials in transit within Barrayar. The Power Plant Command heavily relies on the Internal Troops. The Power Plant Command does not guard the nuclear weapons or military space craft engines; this role is the responsibility of the Imperial Service.
The role of the Power Plant Command is to provide security for civil power establishments and related materials, throughout the whole planet and star system: more specifically, the role of a Power Plant Command Police Policeman is merely that of providing armed security, rather than being concerned with law enforcement.
Unlike the majority of the IPF personnel, Power Plant Command policemen are routinely heavily armed while carrying out duties, supported by the Internal Troops.
The Command operates at a total of 185 sites on Barrayar, including Ezar Vorbarra Space Station and Xav Vorbarra Space Station.

Orbital and Space Command

The Orbital and Space Command (SPEC-COM 5) is the command which exercises a territorial jurisdiction over all extra-planetary civilian settlements within the Barrayar star system, including those on the two moons and the two large space stations, but also several minor detachments, small colonies or mining facilities across the system; it is to note that system regions outside the proximity of inhabited settlements are under the responsibility of the Space Surveillance Command.

Anti-Banditry Command

The Anti-banditry Command (SPEC-COM 6) is tasked with contrastng criminal gangs, burgeoning black market, smugglers and other criminal forms. The Anti-banditry Command provides both investigative and tactical assets to the contrast to organized criminal gangs, and its areas of responsibility frequently intermingle those of the S.O.C.A., which often relies on the Command itself in order to be tactically supported. Critics of the ABC complain the ruthlessness of its members, and particularly of the Anti-Gangs Intervention Unit (AGIU), which often serves also as general-purpose tactical police force.

Environmental Police Command

The "Command for Protection of the Environment and for the Security of Agricolture", officially shortened in Environmental Police Command (SPEC-COM 7), is a specialized Command of the Imperial Police Force. As agency under the functional and operational direction of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Environmental Police Command acts as a park/forest ranger force responsible for protecting Barrayaran Southern Continent's natural resources, the environment, countryside and ecosystems, especially national parks and national forests. The ENVICOM is also responsible for civil protection in mountain areas and for disaster relief. For duities related to the sourveillance on the terraforming, it depends on the Ministry of the West.
The Forestry Command has the tasks of public security, as the whole IPF, with particular focus to rural and mountain areas, of Envronmental and Forest Police, consisting of investigation and repression of offences against the environment, hunting police, controlling hunting and fishing, as well as poaching, illegal fishing and trapping, animal food sourveillance (on the food industry) and environmental administrative police, for discharges of industrial waste water treatment plants in municipal and corporate, tourist and hotel facilities supervision, etc.
In the Northern District the Environmental Command is replaced with an autonomous structure, with the same tasks and duties, but organized by the relevant District Count.

Environmental Central Inspectorate

The Environmental Central Inspectorate directs the Command activities on all the jurisdiction territory. It is dependant on Ministry for the functional and operational areas of activity, and on Central Command for the disciplinary and organizational matters.

• Poaching Operational Command: the activity is spread in areas where the poaching practice is stronger, coordinating the operation and creates the appropriate operational departments.
• Administrative Terraforming Service: structured in a coordination center and 450 peripheral offices. The Coordinating Centre has the role of assisting and coordinating the activities of peripheral offices, for technical and scientific advice, to issue directives, relationship with local and international bodies. Branch offices have the function of issuing certificates, finding violations and territorial control even at the customs, with the function of verification of goods, document checks and verification of commercial handling and investigation of irregularities.

Environmental Investigative Service

The Environmental Investigative Service, composed of specialists in environmental law and culture, performs functions of judicial police in environmental matters, with the exception of the findings of a technical-scientific, for which uses ministerial organizations. It is subdivided into both a central and a peripheral network:

• Central Investigative Section for Crimes Against Animals (CIS-CAA): the investigative section that covers the entire national territory and which conducts investigation and repressive crimes against animals with particular reference to the abuse.
• Firefighting Investigative Section (FIS): carries out investigative activity against forestry fires, in conjunction with the Imperial Fire Watch Coprs.
• Central Investigative Section of Environmental-Forestal Police (CIS-EFP): the main tasks are the investigation and analysis of criminal activities related to the environment throughout the Southern Continent; the Section carries out connection and coordination with other bodies.
  • District Investigative Sections Environmental and Forestal Police (DIS-EFP): carry out investigation of crimes related to fires, protected areas, landfills, illegal trafficking of waste, environmental pollution and food controls. The District Section depends on CIS-EPP for the functional and operational areas of activity, and on District Command for the disciplinary and organizational matters.

Special Intervention Group

The Imperial Police Force Special Intervention Group, commonly abbreviated SIG, is the IPF elite special forces, acting as counter-terrorism and hostage rescue unit. SIG is more an enhanced SWAT team than a military special force, although it can also be tasked for military operations outside of Barrayaran space. Its operators are trained to follow law enforcement regulations and include negotiation specialists. The SIG is often requested to teach the police and military special forces of other powers in hostage-rescue exercises.
The Department of Public Security employs SIG for the release of hostages from aircraft, ships, trains, buses and buildings. It calls them also to protect vulnerable targets from terrorist attacks or criminal activities and to ensure monitoring and security at high-risk events. SIG is used by the Central Command of the Imperial Police to ensure the safety of persons threatened or to assist territorial units in crisis situations such as kidnappings and the capture of dangerous criminals, fugitives and rebels. Occasionally they are also responsible for the training of police personnel abroad.

Training

Every SIG operator is a volunteer from the Riot Police Command. As first selection, all candidates go to an interview with a SIG official in order to verify their motivation, which is a key element. Policemen who pass the first selections go to a basic course which lasts 6 months. A great amount of time is devolved to martial arts, explosives, combat driving, tactics, foreign languages, topography, political education and photography as well as combat shooting. Every SIG operator has gained the paratrooper brevet and therefore wears the Maroon Beret.
They use EATS (Energy Arms Training System), a laser-system which project on a screen interactive images and can record all students' reactions. Usually during this first course 50% retires. From them who pass, only the finest are selected to go to the Specialization Course which lasts other six months, after which they become operative members of the Security Operational Central Unit, while others are assigned to Inter-District Intervention Platoons.
The police paramilitary units also conduct training exercises with active duty special forces of the Imperial Service.

S.I.G. Organization

The Special Intervention Group is composed of two main arms: the planet-wide and elite Security Operational Central Unit (S.O.C.U.) and the enhanced Inter-District Intervention Platoons (I.D.I.P.), at the peripheral level.
The Special Intervention Group is composed of around 1,400 men, 400 belonging to the S.O.C.U and 1,000 to the Inter-District Intervention Platoons. The Special Intervention Group is head-quartered in Vorbarr Sultana. At the head of the whole Group there is a Colonel, who directly commands the SOCU and directs the IDIPs. The Special Intervention Groups provides common services to both SOCU and IDIPs. The Group Command constitutes the overall echelon, and it is headed by the Commander. The Command consists of Group Staff and the Administrative Secretariat, which has the task of providing for the administrative aspects of the Group.

Security Operational Central Unit

The Security Operational Central Unit (S.O.C.U.) is the hearth of the Special Intervention Group. Being the SIG elite echelon, the S.O.C.U. is charged of carrying out the most dangerous or secret missions. SOCU's missions include the arrest of most dangerous criminals, in particular those taking hostages, counter-terrorism and dealing with aircraft hijacking, and ending most dangerous prison riots. In its more security-oriented missions, the Security Operational Central Unit is often belted by the Internal Troops, while in its most combat-oriented missions support and belting units belong to the Riot Command. It is composed of around 400 men, including 11 Officials.
The Security Operational Central Unit is subdivided into:

• Command Cell
• Training Group
• Operational Support Unit, including negotiation, breaching, intelligence, communications, marksmanship, dogs and special equipment cells. The special equipment group equips the unit with modified and high-tech equipment, by either selecting or designing it.
  • Negotiation Cell
  • Marksmanship (further subdivided into teams)
• Operational Group: the Operational Group deploys five Operational Platoons and a V.I.P. Protection team.

Four out five of the Operational Platoons deploy 3 combat sections and 1 sniper/reconnaissance team each. Every section is divided into detachment of four men. In every moment there is at least a section ready to leave the base in 30 minutes. Sniper team is usually formed by two snipers and a scout. The Fifth Operational Platoon is the Special Forces Unit of the SIG, focused exclusively on special warfare.

Inter-District Intervention Platoons

The "Inter-District Intervention Platoons" are peripheral structures and articulations of the Special Intervention Group. IDIPs are an intermediate force between elite Riot units and SIG. An Inter-Regional Intervention Platoon is required to be operational and able to respond within a half hour. The IDIPs can either act alone on severe events, or wait for the SIG.
Recruitment and training of IDIP are at the national level: the basic training lasts eight weeks and is provided by the SIG itself. It is keen to note that IDIPs are internal subdivisions of the Special Intervention Group, and therefore there is is a common selection,the best being assigned to the "central" SIG. There are fifteen 60-Agents Inter-Districts Intervention Platoons, each responsible for an area of four Districts: they are supported and belted mostly by the Riot units, according to the needs.

Other similar units

Due to the peculiar public order conditions, on Barrayar there are other tactical units, apart of the Special Intervention Group, both of Internal Troops and of the IPF itself:

• 1st "Tiger" Counter Terrorist Battalion (Internal Troops)
• "Aries" Special Intervention Battalion (Internal Troops)
• 1st "Quasar" and 2nd "Nova" Special Prison Security Battalions (Internal Troops)
• 100 Special Rapid Response Units (Internal Troops)
• Special Prison Riot Group (Imperial Police Force)

High risk policing practices

In order to provide a direct and short-term response, all District Commands have special units (Special Response Squadrons, SRS), lesser trained than the Special Intervention Group and than IDIP, but in charge of dealing with minor barricades and search issues, as well as of providing local guide and support to Internal Troops, if required. When SOCU, IDIP or SRS teams deploy, they typically wear light combat helmets and combat uniforms, fatigues designed for military use. Every team is carried in is the armoured personnel vehicles, often transferred by the Imperial Service. These vehicles provide protection from shrapnel and small energy/bullet arms fire and are not typically armed when in use by domestic law enforcement.
Whatever unit they belong to, special units teams members are trained to think like soldiers, but the general peacetime trend is to restrain to engage in activity that is poorly planned or poorly motivated, insistence on following proper procedure, and keeping superiors apprised of the situation, in order to maximize public safety. During peacetimes, each deployment has to be preventively authorized by the highest ranking police official available.

Auxiliary Services Main Office

The Police controls and directs two auxiliary service, whose members are subject to the Police discipline:

• Rescue Service: consists of all professional rescue and fire departments under a national command structure in connection with the Technical Emergency Service.
• Technical Emergency Service: is a corps of engineers, technicians and specialists in construction work. The Service is intended to keep the public utilities and essential industries running during the wave of strikes.

Veteran Policemen

Veteran Policemen are a category established in the Imperial Police Force is to maintain the service - for the longest time as possible - non-commissioned officers and policemen having long service records, both to improve the economic conditions of those who were forced to leave the service because of age or for illness, exit benefits too small. The category is composed of policemen that are an integral part of the Force, who wear the uniform and retain prerogatives.
Veteran Policemen, to be chosen among the non-commissioned officers and enlisted men unfit for active service of their stations with at least fifteen years of seniority, disengage exclusively public security tasks, for which they are available to police officials.

Related voices

• Government of Barrayar
• Law enforcement in Barrayar