Federal Police (Austria)
The Federal Police is the main federal law enforcement agency of the Austrian Republic. The Federal Police was formed in July 2005 as one formal unit of police. Before 2005 the police system operated the Gendarmerie for most of the country, and the Polizei in the heavy city and urban areas such as Vienna, Salzburg and Graz. In 2004 it was agreed by the Government of Austria that these two police forces, along with the criminal investigation service, the public security constabulary, and the security authorities, would all form together to become the 'Federal Police of Austria'. The Federal Police is also responsible for border control.
Command
The current command structure that the Bundespolizei operates is very simple. The Federal Police is commanded by Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior. The Ministry then delegates to the 9 State Police commands. Depending on the State command, the districts and cities are controlled by either a District Police Command or a City Police Command. These commands then operate through police stations throughout the Province.The 9 State Police Commands are the same as the general States of Austria.
- Vienna
- Styria
- Carinthia
- Salzburg
- Lower Austria
- Upper Austria
- Vorarlberg
- Tyrol
- Burgenland
Firearms
They are equipped with Steyr AUG assault rifle, Heckler & Koch MP5 or other weapons required for missions. They're also equipped with batons and Pepper sprays for less-than-lethal options.
Vehicles
The vehicles currently used by the Polizei vary:- Volkswagen Sharan
- Volkswagen Touran
- Volkswagen Passat
- Audi A6
- Volkswagen Golf Estate
- Volkswagen Multivan
- Škoda Kodiaq
- Volkswagen Amarok
- Volkswagen Touareg
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
- Mercedes-Benz B180
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- Mercedes-Benz G-Class
- Ford Transit
- Škoda Octavia
- Nissan Pathfinder
- Mercedes-Benz O303
- BMW R 1200 RT
- Ducati Multistrada (Motor Bikes
There are several up-to-date armoured vehicles in operation by the special forces unit EKO Cobra of the interior ministry. The Vienna police currently maintains a Sonderwagen 4 as armoured personnel carrier.
Aircraft
Porsche 911
The Austrian Police experimented with the Porsche 911 in order to crack down on motorway speeding. After a six-month test phase the Polizei decided not to order more 911s due to fact that there wasn't enough room to store the needed equipment and they are too expensive.
Ranks and rank insignia
Rank insignia of Commissioners
Rank insignia of Leitende Beamte
Rank insignia of Dienstführende Beamte
Rank insignia of Eingeteilte Beamte
Rank insignia of Legal officers
Rank insignia of Police surgeons'