National Police Service (Bulgaria)
| National Police Service Национална служба „Полиция“ | |
|---|---|
 Logo of the National Police | |
| Common name | Полиция / Police |
| Abbreviation | GDNP |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1925 |
| Preceding agency |
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| Employees | 53114 officers |
| Annual budget | $1,103,492,490 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Bulgaria |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Elected officer responsible |
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| Agency executive |
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| Parent agency | Ministry of Interior |
| Child agency |
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| Facilities | |
| Stations | More than 180 |
| Website | |
| www | |
The National Police Service (Bulgarian: Национална служба „Полиция“), also known as the General Directorate "National Police" (Главна дирекция "Национална полиция", ГДНП) is an independent agency of the Ministry of the Interior responsible for general law enforcement in Bulgaria.[1]
History
[edit]Directorate for Police and State Security (1925–1944)
[edit]With the creation of the Law for Administration and Police in 1925 was established the Police and State Security Directorate.
Its duties included enforcing laws and ensuring the safety of the country. It continued to function until 1944 with the creation of the People's Militia.
Militia (1944–1989)
[edit]The People's Militia (Bulgarian: Народна милиция) was established by the Council of Ministers with Decree No. 1 on 10 September 1944 (one day after the communist coup).[2]
The Directorate of the People's Militia was structured into two departments: State Security and People's Militia.[3][4]
On April 1, 1947, the Main Directorate of the People's Militia was established, which included the Directorate of State Security and the Directorate of the People's Militia.
The militia functioned as a basic police force, but also acted as an intelligence agency and spied on both its own and foreign citizens, secretly gathering information for the communist party.
With the democratic changes of 1991, the People's Militia was replaced by the National Police.[5][6]
General Directorate of the National Police (1991–present)
[edit]With the fall of communism in 1991 was established the National Police Directorate and later, in 1993 was accepted the new law for the national police.
In 2008 the national police numbered 47000 officers and 5000 administrative workers. In 2022 a total of 53114 officers and ~4000 civilian workers served under the GDNP.
Directors
[edit]- Encho Staykov (September 1944)
- Radenko Vidinsky (September – November 1944)
- Rusi Hristozov (November 1944 – April 1947)
- Blagoi Penev (January 10, 1948 – April 20, 1950)
- Major General Georgi Krastev (March – October 1963)
- Colonel Petko Stoyanov (1953 – May 1954; 1957 – 1963)
- Grigor Shopov (June 18, 1963 – ?)
- Major General Georgi Krastev (? – April 1966)
- Lieutenant General Nikola Angelov (April 1966 – December 1969)
- Major General Kostadin Iliev (July 17, 1972 – October 22, 1981)
- Major General Ivan Dimitrov (October 22, 1981 – February 21, 1990)
- Colonel Hristo Velichkov (1990)
- Colonel Viktor Mihailov (1990 – December 1992)
- Major General Hristo Marinski (January 3 – February 19, 1997)
- Colonel Slavcho Bosilkov (February 19, 1997 – December 3, 1998)
- Major General Vasil Vasilev (December 3, 1998 – December 15, 2003)
- Major General Ilia Iliev (December 15, 2003 – September 21, 2005)
- Lieutenant General Valentin Petrov (September 21, 2005 – November 28, 2007)
- Chief Commissioner Veselin Petrov (November 28, 2007 – July 1, 2008)
- Chief Commissioner Krasimir Petrov (July 1, 2008 – November 25, 2013)
- Chief Commissioner Todor Grebenarov (November 25, 2013 – February 24, 2015)
- Chief Commissioner Hristo Terziyski (February 24, 2015 – July 24, 2020)
- Senior Commissioner Nikolay Hadzhiev (July 24, 2020 – June 8, 2021)
- Chief Commissioner Stanimir Stanev (June 8, 2021 – January 4, 2022)
- Senior Commissioner Atanas Ilkov (January 4, 2022 – January 7, 2022)
- Chief Commissioner Vencislav Kirchev (January 7, 2022 – August 9, 2022)
- Atanas Ilkov (since August 9, 2022 – current director of the National Police)
Structure
[edit]
The National Police has the following structure:[7]
- General Directorate "National Police"
- Director
- departments and sectors directly subordinated to the Director
- Deputy Director
- Criminal Police Department
- Economic Police Department
- Deputy Director
- Department for Investigations
- Department for Methodic Supervision of Investigations
- independent sectors
- Deputy Director
- Public Order and Territorial Police Department – Security Police, Traffic Police
- Specialized Police Forces
Ranks and insignia
[edit]| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 National Police Service |
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| Главен секретар | Главен комисар | Старши комисар | Комисар | Главен инспектор | Старши инспектор | Инспектор I-ва степен | Инспектор II-ра степен | Инспектор III-та степен | ||||||||||||||||
| Glaven sekretar | Glaven komisar | Starshi komisar | Komisar | Glaven inspektor | Starshi inspektor | Inspektor I-va stepen | Inspektor II-ra stepen | Inspektor III-ta stepen | ||||||||||||||||
- Others
| Rank group | Policemen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Police Service |
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| Главен полицай | Полицай I-ва степен | Полицай II степен | Полицай III степен | |
| Glaven politsaĭ | Politsaĭ I-va stepen | Politsaĭ II stepen | Politsaĭ III stepen | |
Locations
[edit]The National Police Service of Bulgaria operates more than 180 police stations. These facilities are organized under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior and are distributed across 28 Regional Directorates of the Ministry of Interior, which oversee policing and law enforcement operations throughout the country [8]. 27 of the directorates are to be found named as ODMVR (Oblastna Direkciya na MVR, Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior), while the Directorate for Sofia is to be named SDVR (Stolichna Direkciya na Vatreshnite Raboti, Directorate of the Ministry of Interior for Stolichna Municipality).
| Province | Directorate | Town Station | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blagoevgrad Province | ODMVR Blagoevgrad | Blagoevgrad | 2* |
| Razlog | 1 | ||
| Bansko | 1 | ||
| Gotse Delchev | 1 | ||
| Petrich | 1 | ||
| Sandanski | 1 | ||
| Burgas Province | ODMVR Burgas | Burgas | 4* |
| Aitos | 1 | ||
| Karnobat | 1 | ||
| Malko Tarnovo | 1 | ||
| Nessebar | 1 | ||
| Primorsko | 1 | ||
| Pomorie | 1 | ||
| Ruen | 1 | ||
| Sozopol | 1 | ||
| Sredets | 1 | ||
| Sungurlare | 1 | ||
| Tsarevo | 1 | ||
| Varna Province | ODMVR Varna | Varna | 5* |
| Aksakovo | 1 | ||
| Devnya | 1 | ||
| Provadiya | 1 | ||
| Veliko Tarnovo Province | ODMVR Veliko Tarnovo | Veliko Tarnovo | 1* |
| Gorna Oryahovitsa | 1 | ||
| Elena | 1 | ||
| Pavlikeni | 1 | ||
| Svishtov | 1 | ||
| Vidin Province | ODMVR Vidin | Vidin | 3* |
| Belogradchik | 2 | ||
| Kula | 1 | ||
| Vratsa Province | ODMVR Vratsa | Vratsa | 2* |
| Mezdra | 1 | ||
| Byala Slatina | 1 | ||
| Kozloduyi | 1 | ||
| Oryahovo | 1 | ||
| Gabrovo Province | ODMVR Gabrovo | Gabrovo | 1* |
| Sevlievo | 1 | ||
| Dryanovo | 1 | ||
| Tryavna | 1 | ||
| Dobrich Province | ODMVR Dobrich | Dobrich | 2* |
| Tervel | 1 | ||
| Balchik | 1 | ||
| General Toshevo | 1 | ||
| Shabla | 1 | ||
| Krushari | 1 | ||
| Kyustendil Province | ODMVR Kyustendil | Kyustendil | 1* |
| Dupnitsa | 1 | ||
| Bobov Dol | 1 | ||
| Rila | 1 | ||
| Kardzhali Province | ODMVR Kardzhali | Kardzhali | 2* |
| Momchilgrad | 1 | ||
| Dzhebel | 1 | ||
| Kirkovo | 1 | ||
| Ardino | 1 | ||
| Krumovgrad | 1 | ||
| Lovech Province | ODMVR Lovech | Lovech | 1* |
| Troyan | 1 | ||
| Teteven | 1 | ||
| Lukovit | 1 | ||
| Ugarchin | 1 | ||
| Yablanitsa | 1 | ||
| Montana Province | ODMVR Montana | Montana | 1* |
| Lom | 1 | ||
| Berkovitsa | 1 | ||
| Pazardzhik Province | ODMVR Pazardzhik | Pazardzhik | 1* |
| Velingrad | 1 | ||
| Panagyurishte | 1 | ||
| Peshtera | 1 | ||
| Septemvri | 1 | ||
| Pernik Province | ODMVR Pernik | Pernik | 2* |
| Radomir | 1 | ||
| Breznik | 1 | ||
| Tran | 1 | ||
| Pleven Province | ODMVR Pleven | Pleven | 2* |
| Cherven Bryag | 1 | ||
| Levski | 1 | ||
| Nikopol | 1 | ||
| Dolni Dubnik | 1 | ||
| Dolna Mitropolia | 1 | ||
| Knezha | 1 | ||
| Plovdiv Province | ODMVR Plovdiv | Plovdiv | 6* |
| Asenovgrad | 1 | ||
| Karlovo | 1 | ||
| Hisar | 1 | ||
| Stamboliiski | 1 | ||
| Rakovski | 1 | ||
| Parvomai | 1 | ||
| Trud | 1 | ||
| Razgrad Province | ODMVR Razgrad | Razgrad | 1* |
| Isperih | 1 | ||
| Kubrat | 1 | ||
| Ruse Province | ODMVR Ruse | Ruse | 2* |
| Byala | 1 | ||
| Betovo | 1 | ||
| Dve Mogili | 1 | ||
| Slivo Pole | 1 | ||
| Silistra Province | ODMVR Silistra | Silistra | 1* |
| Tutrakan | 1 | ||
| Dulovo | 1 | ||
| Sliven Province | ODMVR Sliven | Sliven | 1* |
| Nova Zagora | 1 | ||
| Kotel | 1 | ||
| Tvarditsa | 1 | ||
| Smolyan Province | ODMVR Smolyan | Smolyan | 1* |
| Chepelare | 1 | ||
| Devin | 1 | ||
| Madan | 1 | ||
| Zlatograd | 1 | ||
| Sofia City Province | SDVR | Sofia | 9* |
| Sofia Province | ODMVR Sofia | Botevgrad | 1 |
| Elin Pelin | 1 | ||
| Etropole | 1 | ||
| Ihtiman | 1 | ||
| Kostenets | 1 | ||
| Kostinbrod | 1 | ||
| Pirdop | 1 | ||
| Pravets | 1 | ||
| Samokov | 1 | ||
| Svoge | 1 | ||
| Slivnitsa | 1 | ||
| Stara Zagora Province | ODMVR Stara Zagora | Stara Zagora | 2* |
| Kazanlak | 1 | ||
| Chirpan | 1 | ||
| Galabovo | 1 | ||
| Radnevo | 1 | ||
| Targovishte Province | ODMVR Targovishte | Targovishte | 1* |
| Popovo | 1 | ||
| Omurtag | 1 | ||
| Haskovo Province | ODMVR Haskovo | Haskovo | 1* |
| Dimitrovgrad | 1 | ||
| Svilengrad | 1 | ||
| Harmanli | 1 | ||
| Topolovgrad | 1 | ||
| Ivailovgrad | 1 | ||
| Shumen Province | ODMVR Shumen | Shumen | 1* |
| Veliki Preslav | 1 | ||
| Novi Pazar | 1 | ||
| Kaolinovo | 1 | ||
| Yambol Province | ODMVR Yambol | Yambol | 1* |
| Tundzha | 1 | ||
| Straldzha | 1 | ||
| Elhovo | 1 |
* denotes Regional Police Stations, which is higher in the hierarchy. Plain numbers denote Police Stations.
Inventory
[edit]Small arms
[edit]| Name | Origin | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makarov | Bulgaria |
Semi-automatic pistol | Locally produced at the Arsenal plant in Kazanlak. Most popular pistol in the Bulgarian Police. |
| Walther PDP |  Germany |
Bought in bulk since 2020. Second most popular handgun, though mostly used in the bigger cities and by higher ranked police in the countryside. | |
| Glock 17 |  Austria |
Used by ГДБОП and СОБТ they are used for years and still using them |
Submachine gun
[edit]| Name | Origin | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brügger & Thomet MP9 |  Switzerland |
Submachine gun | Used by СДВР (Столична дирекция на вътрешните работи) |
| Heckler & Koch MP5 | Germany |
Used by СДВР,ГДБОП,СОБТ |
Vehicles
[edit]The vehicle fleet of the National Police Service construes of a wide variety of different models. The police cars of Bulgaria could be both marked and unmarked. The marked police cars could be colored in the older Bulgarian police livery, which is a white-painted body with two blue stripes, Police written in Bulgarian along with the National Police Service's logo. Some vehicles are featuring a slight variation of this livery, being colored in either red, or dark blue. Recently, a newer livery was introduced, featuring a color scheme with a white-blue livery and prominent neon yellow reflective stripes for high visibility in an effort to unify the color palette of the marked police cars and make it consistent with the style used in various other European countries.
| Make | Model | Details | Photo | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skoda | Kodiaq |  |
New livery. | |
| Volkswagen | Golf | Variant |  |
New livery. |
| Volvo | XC60 | PHEV |  |
New livery. |
| BMW | 3 Series | 330d Touring |  |
New livery. Mostly used as Highway Police |
| Ford | Tourneo |  |
New livery. | |
| Kia | Ceed |  |
Usually featuring the old livery. | |
| Skoda | Rapid | .jpg) |
Usually featuring the old livery. | |
| Volkswagen | Tiguan |  |
Featuring armored elements; usually using the old livery. | |
| SsangYong | Tivoli | .jpg) |
Used mostly as Municipal Police in Sofia. Could be seen in both the new livery, but also in the traditional Bulgarian police-car colors. | |
| Great Wall | H6 |  |
Old livery. | |
| Opel | Astra | 1.6 Classic |  |
This is the longest-standing horse of the Bulgarian National Police Service. Used for many years; featuring the old livery, and could also be seen in red and blue. After many years of faithful service, fewer and fewer Opel Astras are to be spotted patrolling. |
| Citroen | Xsara | Picasso |  |
Old livery. In the past it was also heavily used by the Bulgarian Border Police. |
| Ford | Ranger | Pick-up (with a hard top) | .jpg) |
Old livery. |
| Ford | Transit | .jpg) |
Old livery - Featuring armored elements. | |
| Volkswagen | T5 |  |
Old livery. |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "National Police Service". Mvr.bg. 2012-09-21. Archived from the original on 2012-10-03. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
- ↑ Team Marica (2018-09-10). Народната милиция ни пази от 1944-та [The People's Militia has been protecting us since 1944]. marica.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2023-01-12.
- ↑ На 10 септември 1944 г. е създадена Народната милиция [On September 10, 1944, the People's Militia was established]. Здраве и култура (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2023-01-12.
- ↑ Petkova, Petya (2019-09-10). На 10 септември 1944 г. в България е създадена Народна милиция [On September 10, 1944, a People's Militia was established in Bulgaria]. Patrioti Net (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2023-01-12.
- ↑ Народната милиция празнува 70 години [The People's Militia celebrates 70 years]. Фактор (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2023-01-12.
- ↑ История [History]. agentibg.com (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2023-01-12.
- ↑ "Organization chart of the National Police" (PDF). Official website of the Ministry of Interior Affairs. 24 January 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- ↑ "Regional Police Departments". mvr.bg. Retrieved 2026-06-25.
External links
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