Rigspolitiet

The National Police Rigspolitiet
Logo of the The National Police
Agency overview
Legal personality	Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
Size	43,000 square kilometres (17,000 sq mi) in Denmark, 2,175,000 square kilometres (840,000 sq mi) in Greenland, 1,400 square kilometres (540 sq mi) in other dependencies
Legal jurisdiction	Denmark  Faroe Islands  Greenland
General nature	Law enforcement Civilian agency
Operational structure
Headquarters	Polititorvet 14
Agency executive	Jens Henrik Højbjerg, Rigspolitichefen
Child agency	•Politiområdet •Koncernstyring •Koncern IT •Koncern HR •Politiets Efterretningstjeneste (PET)
Website
https://www.politi.dk/en/servicemenu/home/

The National Police of Denmark (Danish: Rigspolitiet) is the upper most level of the Police of Denmark. Administered by a framework of laws dictated by the Folketing (Danish Parliament) and the government's Minister for Justice, Rigspolitiet polices all regions governed by Denmark, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

Rigspolitiet is controlled by the Minister for Justice via the National Commissioner of Police, who in turn operates above a number of commissioners and departments in the National Commissioner’s Office. These departments include: Budgets and Accounts, the Building Surveying Department, the Data Department, the Traffic Department, Personnel and Recruitment, the Police Department, the Police College, the Aliens Department and the Danish Security Intelligence Service.

Since 2000, the National Commissioner was Torsten Hesselbjerg. However, he had to retire in disgrace by the end of 2008. The new National Commissioner is Jens Henrik Højbjerg, by permanent appointment effective 1 February 2009.

National Commissioner's office also consists of the police commissioners for the 12 police districts of Denmark and the territories it governs, as well as administrative officers for the community police forces that support the regular units. Each district has one central police headquarters, as well as a number of sub-stations depending on the size of the district. Each district is headed by a police commissioner who works as part of the National Commissioner's Office, and is supported by various assistant commissioners and chief constables, all of whom are required to have degrees in law. Each district's uniformed sections are headed by a chief superintendent.

The Copenhagen Police department are, due to the size and complexity of the area policed, organised somewhat differently, with three deputy commissioners to assist the main commissioner.

Rigspolitiet are required to perform a number of duties as outlined by the force policy and Denmark's Justice Act and in the Act on Police Activities:

In addition to law enforcement duties, Rigspolitiet are also tasked with administrative duties, including administering driving tests, weapons licences and vehicle licences as well as issuing police clearance certificates and criminal records.

All applicants must be Danish citizens and be over the age of 21, with good health, eyesight and hearing, as well as a qualification in lifesaving or first aid. Police cadets are trained for nine months before they commence duties, followed by eighteen months on-the-job training while they are carrying out their duties. This is followed by a second nine-month course and an examination along with compulsory service Support Unit of the Copenhagen Police. Following on from this basic training, Rigspolitiet offer continuous courses throughout an officers career.