Gassasinian National Police
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| Gassasinian National Police الشرطة الوطنية في غازاسينيا alshurtat alwataniat fi ghazasinia | |
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| Abbreviation | G.N.P. GSPOL |
| Motto | "Thrismari's Finest" |
| Agency overview | |
| Preceding agencies |
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| Employees | 45,309 |
| Annual budget | GSD $32.8 Billion |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Legal jurisdiction |  Gassasinia |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Agency executive |
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| Website | |
| https://police.gov.ga | |
The Gassasinian National Police is the national civilian police force of Gassasinia, responsible for usual police fighting crime, maintaining public safety and order, investigating and tacking criminal groups throughout Gassasinia, along with protection of the constitution and its' values, counter-terrorism and monitoring of extremist political groups. Formed in 1978 by the National Police Act, the National Police was formed to be a new impartial and reformed police force, integrating controversial affirmative action policies to help alleviate the dominance of Christians amongst the ranks of the police, while disassociating itself from the repression of the Royal Gassasinian Police, who during the years of mass civil unrest and paramilitary violence had endorsed and maintained several far-right paramilitaries.
The Gassasinian National Police are well-known for the fact that it's police officers do not regularly carry firearms, a policy introduced in the National Police's constituting legislation, the National Police Act 1978 which forbids the National Police from utilising a paramilitary structure or armaments with the exception of specialist armed units. This policy has attracted a wide variety of reactions ranging from derision to admiration from observers across the world.
The National Police has been accused by it's detractors of stifling dissent and free-speech in Gassasinia due to it's so-called "counter-extremism" operations maintained by the service's Special Branch, which focuses on intelligence gathering, management and even suppression of extremist groups which pose a potential threat to the Gassasinian state and social order.
Despite the aforementioned criticisms, the Gassasinian National Police has been recognised by many as a very professional and impartial force, operating on the principles of policing by consent by which the legitimacy of the police is dependent on the public having confidence in the police by maintaining a consistent record of transparency, accountability and integrity. This strong adherence to responsibility and accountability has afforded the National Police the title of "Thrismari's Finest".
The Gassasinian National Police answers to the Secretary of State for the Home Office. Furthermore, the Gassasinian National Police is held accountable by the Independent Police Investigatory Commission, which is made up of a mixture of civil employees and retired police officers, and is responsible for reviewing and investigating police conduct, and where necessary, supporting the Public Prosecution Agency in cases against the National Police and police officers. The Independent Police Investigatory Commission is recognised as one of the most effective anti-corruption and police accountability services in Thrismari.
History
Counter-Terrorism Alert Level
The Counter-Terrorism Alert Level is a level used to help inform and advise the public and government's reaction and readiness to terrorism threats. It is made up of four threat levels:
- Imminent
- Very High
- High
- Moderate
- Low
This system was devised in the 1980's, to respond to lingering but declining terroristic threats after reformations in the late 1970's. From 1995 to the 6th of November 2020, the terrorism level in Gassasinia had been set to Low, indicating that terrorist attacks are highly unlikely. However, after a spree of global terrorist groups committed by terrorist group One World, the Counter-Terrorism Alert Level has been raised to High, the highest alert alert level since the 1980's.
Since the end of the One World crisis, the Counter-Terrorism Alert Level has returned back to Low.
Operational Units
Rural Police
The Rural Police is the operational unit responsible for patrolling more rural areas of Gassasinia. The Rural Police has its' origins in the Desert Patrol of the Royal Gassasinian Police, which was predominantly staffed by Bedouins. Reflecting upon its' Bedouin background, the Rural Police retains Keffiyehs as optional headwear for their officers. Nowadays, however, most Rural Police constables come from a diverse variety of backgrounds, ranging from Christians to those of Mehrani immigrant descent.
Municipal Police
The Municipal Police is responsible for patrolling predominantly urban and suburban areas of Gassasinia. Most officers in Gassasinia are Municipal Police officers. Municipal Police officers generally only patrol their own locality.
Most Municipal Police officers are completely unarmed, and do not carry firearms in their cars. Rather - the Municipal Police rely on specialised Firearms Response Cars - and if needed - officers from armed operational units. This is generally not an issue, because firearms ownership in Gassasinia is rare, and armed officers are generallly on hand to quickly respond to incidents.
Municipal Police officers are often posted at Community Policing Station, small local police stations staffed by a small quantity of police officers. These Community Policing Stations provide community policing for neighbourhoods on a more personal and close level than larger police stations. These Neighbourhood Policing Stations often provide services including Lost Property, crime reporting, directions, wellness checks, and even social support services for mentally unwell individuals.
Uniforms
Traditional uniforms of the Gassasinian National Police consists of dark blue slacks and a light blue short-sleeve button-up shirt, worn with a dark blue tie and a dark blue tunic (although often the tunic was left off in warm weather.) Whereas this uniform was once standard for patrol officers, it has since been phased out in patrol usage in favour of a more comfortable design but remains standard for office work and ceremonial duties. A variation on this uniform which is combined with modern cargo trousers, utility belt and vest is still used by some municipal police units for publicity reasons.
A dark-blue sweater can be worn in milder weather. With the dress shirt, a NATO-type wooly-pully jumper is worn, whereas a half-zip jumper is worn with the polo shirt.
Officers of the National Police, regardless of gender, often wear a peaked cap, featuring a white and blue sillitoe tartan checkering pattern and the badge of the National Police. Alternatively, female officers have the option of wearing a bowler hat, whereas patrol officers in summer uniform have the option to eschew their tunic and don a baseball cap. When on foot-patrol, both male and female officers have the option to wear a custodian helmet - usually white or dark blue, and bearing a chrome-coloured police badge.
In colder weather, officers can don dark blue fur-collared parkas, and fur hats - with variations of both the parka and fur hat using synthetic fur available for vegan officers.
Since the late 1990's, some modifications have been made to the standard police constable's patrol uniform intended to maximise comfort while maintaining a professional appearance. Eschewing the tunic, slacks, polyester shirt and tie, more modern National Police uniforms feature a light blue polo shirt worn with dark blue cargo trousers, a webbing material black duty belt.
For patrol duties, officers are issued with a para-aramid stab-resistant vest. Dark blue in colour with silver reflective stripes, the vest features a variety of different pouches for carrying standard patrol equipment.
Women have the option of a white headscarf for religious purposes whereas Sikh officers can wear a turban. Additionally, Rural Patrol officers can wear a keffiyah, reflecting on the Rural Patrol's Bedouin background.
This uniform replaced the old Royal Police uniform, which consisted of khaki shirt and shorts, with leather boots, and a blue beret, which was felt to be way too militaristic and threatening. To help improve the image of the new National Police, the uniform was redesigned to have a much less threatening appearance. The National Police Act 1978 limits the usage of military or paramilitary equipment by the National Police - including military-style uniforms.
The Police Accountability Act 2017 makes it a legal requirement for police officers to be equipped with body cameras, and body camera footage is required to be given out to members of the public provided that they don't impede public safety, violate the privacy of members of the public or ongoing investigations. All officers are required to have a visible collar number, which is despite it's name usually worn on the officer's shoulder epaulettes.
Vehicles
The National Police does not have a standardised police car livery, and liveries are left up to the individual provincial and municipal-level forces. However, since 1991, designs have to follow a set of design rules and since 2001, police forces have a selection of different approved designs to choose from. The most common designs include "Jam Sandwich" markings and Battenburg markings.
Each vehicle is equipped with a set of red and blue emergency lights, and a set of electronic sirens.
Each vehicle features a run-lock ignition, allowing a car to run the lights with the key out. Furthermore, each vehicle is equipped with a designed long-range digital radio and PA system to contact dispatch and make verbal announcements, and an Al-Haddad Business Computers designed mobile data terminal. In the boot, each vehicle carries a locked rear-compartment carrying a first-aid kit, specialised tools, traffic cones and other important equipment.
The most common models of vehicles used by the National Police are generally common vehicle models imported from Thaudia and New Sebronia, including but not limited to Land Rover Discoveries and Defenders, Mitsubishi Pajeros and Skoda Octavias.
In urbanised areas, officers will often patrol on bicycles, allowing them to reassure the public of their presence, while allowing them to navigate through crowded car-free zones.
Specialist Vehicles
The National Police operates a wide variety of specialist vehicles, including armoured cars, prison transport trucks and armoured public order vehicles of Kentalian, Bak, Qazhshavan and Mehravan origin. These vehicles generally feature a plain dark navy blue or red with black and grey striped livery.
Although the National Police retains a small arsenal of water-cannons for public order, the usage of water cannons requires direct authorisation by the Home Secretary to be deployed. Water cannons have not been authorised for deployment by the National Police since the early 2000's, as they are considered a last-line of defence against rioting due to their potential to injure and even kill those targeted with it's high pressure stream.
Equipment and Firearms
Most Gassasinian police officers are completely unarmed, and carry only an extendable ASP Baton, pepper spray and a Tazer. Gassasinian police have been predominantly been unarmed since 1978, and only certain authorised firearms officers are trained and equipped with firearms. The National Police operates on the principle of minimum required force, and are only authorised to use lethal force to protect themselves and others from serious harm or death. All discharges of firearms by police are vigorously investigated and scrutinised by the Independent Police Investigatory Commission.
Before the foundation of the National Police, Royal Police constables carried either a Browning Hi Power, SAP-SixR or Smith & Wesson Model 10 handgun. After the National Police act introduced unarmed policing, these handguns were transferred to specialist armed units of the new force. The Police-Six - a Gassasinian-made licensed derivative of the Vultesian SAP-SixR was the introduced as a partial replacement for the Model 10 revolver. By the 1990's, the Hi Power, SixR and Model 10 were all phased out in favour of the domestically produced Gassasinian Defence Systems P-17 and it's derivatives.
Regular unarmed police are generally supported by Specialist Firearms Group teams when in need of firearms support. This can include responding to incidents involving deadly weapons, counter-terrorism and protection of high-value or high-risk assets and landmarks.
Although the National Police retains and trains with tear gas, baton guns and water cannons, such weapons are rarely used in a public order context due to strict restrictions regarding appropriate and proportionate usage of force. The use of such measures is only used during severe riots where life, limb and property are in immediate danger due to rioters.
Most Gassasinian police officers are unarmed. Operational Unit firearms policies include...
- Tactical Support Command - Tactical Support Command does not use lethal firearms. Although they have a variety of less-than-lethal measures at their disposal - including water cannons, beanbag shotguns, baton guns and tear gas - these measures are very rarely use and are tightly regulated in line with the principle of "minimum required force", only used as a final resort against potential serious harm to persons and property.
- Criminal Investigation Department - Criminal Investigation Department detectives are trained with firearms but only carry them under authorisation when they expect to need a firearm for self defence.
- Transport Police - Transport Officers do not generally carry firearms, but certain officers trained to use firearms are stationed at major railway stations to provide support.
- Civil Nuclear Police - All Civil Nuclear Police officers are authorised firearms officers, and regularly carry out their duties armed.
- Internal Security Department - Similar to the Criminal Investigation Department, Internal Security Department officers can choose whether to carry firearms based on whether it is deemed necessary or not. Internal Security Department officers are generally issued with concealable handguns.
- Diplomatic Protection Department - All Diplomatic Protection Department officers are regularly equipped with concealed handguns and long-arms which are regularly carried while escorting and protecting those under their protection.
Firearms used by Gassasinian Police include:
- AWP Sniper Rifle
- 308 MWS
- MARS-L AR15 Rifle
- G36C Carbine
- MCX rifle
- Autaametlakav J9 assault rifle
- Autaametlakav J9A1 battle rifle
- SG-3 shotgun
- SG-4 shotgun
- Supernova shotgun
- KSG
- Maschinenpistole M68 personal defence weapon
- Maschinenpistole M03 submachine gun
- MPX submachine gun
- P-17 handgun
- M-75 handgun
- Servicepistole M99
- SAP-SixR
Training
Compared to many police forces worldwide, National Police training is quite intensive and generally consists of a two-year undergraduate degree course awarded by the Police Qualifications Agency which is delivered at local polytechnic educational institutes, which generally require strong grades in high school and college to enrol in. During this course, officers study and practice in depth a wide variety of different topics, ranging from cybercrime to public order policing. National Police training focuses on enabling officers to conduct their duties in a professional and well-conducted manner, so as to inspire confidence in police forces within the communities which they patrol. Because police training is conducted in association with the local National Police Provincial Division, trainee police officers get the opportunity to apply what they have learned by working part-time as a Community Safety Officer alongside a warranted Constable.
Standards and content for degrees relating to policing are set by the Police Qualifications Agency, which is responsible for grading examinations, enforcing course quality and standards, and ensuring that centres enforce disciplinary action against academic misconduct.
Becoming certified as a constable requires one to demonstrate a strong degree of mental and physical strength to ensure that officers are fit to fulfil their duties.
Although officers are trained in a wide variety of unarmed, baton, incapacitant spray and tazer-based self defence techniques, most National Police officers are not trained whatsoever in the usage of firearms. Self-defence training for the GNP is practiced with a focus on appropriate and proportionate use of force to protect officers and bystanders while avoiding any unnecessarily dangerous or painful defensive techniques.
All officers are required to be certified in a comprehensive mixture of first-aid skills, including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Automated External Defibrillator usage and bleeding control.
Police Oath and Caution of Rights
Upon being sworn into the office of constable, Section 6 of the National Police Act 1978 requires that all constables to swear the following oath.
"I, [name] of the Gassasinian National Police, hereby solemnly and sincerely declare [before God almighty] that I will execute my duties in the office of constable faithfully and fairly, with impartiality and integrity, and without malice or bias. I will treat the citizens whom I serve with equality and respect, and with regard for rule of law and human rights, and that I shall do all within my power to protect all members of the public from offences against persons and property and to keep the peace."
This oath is sworn in English. Constables have the option to omit the phrase "before God almighty" based on their personal religious beliefs.
Additionally, according to the National Police Act 1978, police officers are required to inform arrested individuals of their rights to silence, legal counsel and a public defender. The following statement is also expanded on to those arrested on a printed multilingual card written in lay-person understandable language which goes into more detail about their rights relating to arrest and legal counsel and while being interrogated.
"You are not obliged to say anything when questioned but anything you do say when questioned may be recorded used against you as evidence in a court of law. However, do be aware that it may harm your defence if you rely on anything in court that you fail to mention while being questioned. You have the right to seek legal counsel in private without delay, and a public defender will be provided at no cost to yourself if you cannot afford to hire a lawyer. A card will be provided explaining your rights in greater detail. Is there anything that you do not understand and that you wish for me to explain?"
Ranks
Ranks in the Gassasinian National Police generally follow a Commonwealth pattern. Female members of the police force have their rank title appended by "Woman" from Police Constable to Police Sergeant - for example, a female police constable would be referred to a "Woman Police Constable", shortened as "WPC". Although all police officers have equal pay, responsibilities and equipment regardless of gender, the "Woman" prefix remains as a hold-over from the Royal Gassasinian Police Service. On the other hand, Criminal Investigation Department detectives will have their ranks prefixed with "Detective".
- Community Safety Officer (CSO)
- Police Constable (PC)
- Police Sergeant (PS)
- Junior Station Inspector (JSI)
- Station Inspector (SI)
- Sub-Divisional Inspector (SDI)
- Chief Inspector (CI)
- Superintendent (Supt)
- Chief Superintendent (Ch. Supt)
- Deputy Chief Constable (Dept. Ch. Constable)
- Chief Constable (Ch. Constable)
- Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dept. CP)
- Commissioner of Police (CP)
There are three grades of firearms authorisation within the National Police, consisting of:
- Firearms Officer, whom are trained in firearms usage and tactical first aid.
- Specialist Firearms Officer, a higher grade of firearms officers whom have received speciality training in another area.
- Counter Terrorism Firearms Officer, the highest grade of firearms officers whom have received specialist counter-terrorism training alongside the Defence Force Special Forces Directorate.
Structure
This is the structure of how the National Police divides its' different subsections between the country's regions and their responsibilities. The National Police retains a decentralised structure which is divided between the seven regions of Gassasinia. Although the National Police have a wide variety of standardised regulations, local municipalities and police administration have some say in how their Provincial Division and Municipal Police units operate.
- Central Police Headquarters
- Internal Affairs
- Police Information Technology Services
- Provincial Division
- Provincial Police Headquarters
- Municipal Police Service
- Motorway Policing Unit
- Rural Policing Unit
- Special Constabulary
- Specialist Firearms Group
- Criminal Investigation Department
- Organised Crime Division
- Flying Squad
- Tactical Support Group
- Independent Operational Units
- Transport Police
- Air Command
- Civil Nuclear Police
- Serious and Organised Crime Department
- Organised Crime Investigative Service
- Narcotics Investigation Service
- Protected Persons Service
- National Fraud Office
- Cybercrime Office
- Human Trafficking Office
- Special Branch
- Armed Intervention Group
- Air Marshal Service
- Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Service
- Constitutional Protection Department