In February 2013, Régis Asso was appointed Director of the Monaco Police Department. His career as a divisional commissioner in Nice and then Cannes placed him at the forefront of major events: European Heads of State Summits, NATO Summit, G20, France-Africa Summit. He gives us his view of public security in the Principality of Monaco.
What are the origins of the Police Department?
It was created by a Sovereign Ordinance on 23 June 1902. This new state service was controlled by a director exercising his functions under the direct authority of the Governor General, who had below him a Central Police Commissioner, a Commissioner, a Head of Security, Ordinary Commissioners and police officers. In 100 years this Department has continually strengthened its workforce, which numbers 525 in 2015 (plainclothes officers, uniformed officers and administrative employees).
Is security a priority action for the Prince’s Government?
Yes, for the Prince’s Government security is very clearly a crucial priority for the country’s attractiveness. It is an indispensible prerequisite for offering a high quality of life in a 2km² country with a population of nearly 37,000 inhabitants of 134 nationalities, 8800 of whom are Monegasque.
The 525 officials and state officers in the Police Department, divided into five divisions – the Urban Policing Division, the Criminal Investigation Division, the Administrative Police Division, the Maritime and Airport Police division, and the Administration and Training division – are tasked with performing this sovereign role of prime importance.
How are the roles divided between the divisions?
The Urban Police maintains security of the territory, combating offences perpetrated on public land and managing the many public order services connected with the various prestigious international sports competitions and cultural events hosted in Monaco.
Assuring road safety is another important attribution. This is achieved through classical reporting of highway code offences by motorists or bikers, but also through many prevention campaigns, particularly in the secondary schools and colleges.
The Criminal Investigation Division carries out investigations, laying down procedures following any criminal law offences committed in Monaco. It relies on a scientific and technical police unit which collects all traces and evidence to facilitate the identification of perpetrators.
It works closely with many foreign police forces within the framework of a permanent international cooperation role assigned to the Police Department due to Monaco’s geographical specificity.
The Administrative Police enforces the regulations concerning foreigners’ entry and stay in Monegasque territory. It also oversees investigations as part of hiring procedures, approval and control of certain economic activities subject to a prior authorisation or declaration system. It also includes the minors squad, tasked in particular to prevent addictive behaviour among college and secondary school students.
The Maritime and Airport Police deals with port safety and security, surveillance of territorial waters, beaches, sea rescue and control of heliport activities. It also guarantees control of the Schengen area cross-border points i.e. Monaco ferry terminal and heliport.
Lastly, the Administration and Training Division deals with recruitment and initial and continuous training, as well as monitoring staff career development, drafting the budget and managing the dozen telecommunications and urban video-surveillance networks.
The impact of video-protection on combating crime in Monaco
In 1980, Monaco was a pioneer in using means of video-surveillance. At present, 615 cameras are installed within its 2km² and reinforce the police officers’ daily work on the ground. The control and operational transmission Unit coordinates the work of public highway patrols through permanent use of this technical support. It manages Police emergency work initiating from ‘17’ emergency calls. Lastly, video devices contribute to a large extent to identifying persons who have committed an offence and finding the evidence necessary for the elucidation of criminal intelligence investigations. This is both a deterrent and a means of prevention.
What are your relations with the Justice System?
Relations between the police and the justice system are excellent in Monaco. Investigations are given a real response as soon as a person’s criminal liability is demonstrated. Legal rulings are imbued with a certain severity to act as an effective deterrent to those guilty of criminal law violation, however they are balanced and adapted. The commitment of the judiciary is part of the logic of priority state action in the security area.
Is the fact of having a strong police presence well accepted by the population?
Monaco benefits from a visible, well equipped, effective and respected police force.
The police presence has been divided into sectors for 2 years now and covers all parts of Monaco. This proximity, aimed at retaining certain staff in the same sectors, results in better accountability of officers in charge of security patrols. The population is aware of a greater police presence than elsewhere and the Police/population connection helps develop a real sense of security which corresponds to a tangible concept. Indeed there is real recognition of the police’s work. However, nothing is guaranteed in this area and all departments should maintain vigilance at all times.
Is international cooperation also very important?
Monaco is indeed enhanced by relations with its neighbouring countries. Monaco hosted the 83rd Interpol General Assembly here last year: 90 interior ministers, 1600 delegates and accompanying persons representing over 160 countries met on Monegasque soil to enable police forces to compare their experiences and coordinate their actions, in a tense international context due to the development of terrorism. For Interpol it was also a question of commemorating the 100th anniversary of international police cooperation, initiated - in Monaco – on 14 April 1914 by Prince Albert 1st. This visionary sovereign held the first international criminal intelligence police congress, bringing together 27 countries on that very date.
Interpol is the non-governmental international organisation which brings together the highest number of states in the world. This cooperation mechanism results in effective operations as the Monaco police are in permanent contact with the world’s other police forces through the Interpol computerised databases, with a transmission system operating 24 hours a day. This cooperation is even more important as Monaco has residents of many different nationalities.
Can you tell us about financial crime?
Monaco attracts a selected population. The economic prosperity of Monaco fully justifies the existence within the Criminal Investigation Division of a highly structured Economic and Financial Section, in order to identify and neutralise perpetrators of specific offences such as fraud and misappropriation of funds.
Police force cooperation with the Monegasque Association of Financial Activities (A.M.A.F.) is important. It enables information to be disseminated to both finance professionals and private individuals. At present the focus is on combating falsification of addresses in some bank transfers. Thus, quality exchanges established with financial institutions are likely to better curb non compliant money circulation circuits and suspect funds movements. In this context, the Economic and Financial Section is in permanent contact with the Service d’Information et de Contrôle sur les Circuits Financiers (S.I.C.C.FIN).
Finally, combating cyber-crime is also a new goal set for this investigation unit, which requires financial institutions’ cooperation due to the complexity of IT systems and the cunning of some offenders.
In conclusion?
For 2 years, a considerable reduction in general crime and crime on public land has been noted, thanks to the efforts of all public security employees but also through the many partnerships engaged with civil society players. The longstanding collaboration developed with the A.M.A.F. is a pertinent example of common action leading to more effective combating of crime. Although the Principality of Monaco is not particularly exposed, given the difficult international context it is appropriate to guarantee the mobilisation of everyone in order to maintain a high level of security, to which the population is particularly attached.
