The General Director of the State Police, Skënder Hita, stated that security remains the primary "passport" for millions of tourists and visitors choosing Albania, during his speech at the Diaspora Summit, in the panel on migration and reintegration policies.
In his speech, Hita emphasized that the State Police has entered a new phase of modernization and transformation, aiming to be a more professional, transparent, and trustworthy institution for citizens, both within and outside the country.
According to him, investments in technology, the enhancement of human capacities, and cooperation with international partners are the main pillars of this transformation.
Hita also highlighted the importance of the State Police as the first point of contact for tourists and visitors entering Albania, emphasizing improvements at border points, equipping them with contemporary technology, and the continuous training of staff.
It is a particular pleasure to be among you today, in a meeting that unites us around a common value, the strong connection with Albania.
The State Police has entered a new phase of modernization and transformation, aiming to be as professional, transparent, and trustworthy an institution as possible for every citizen, both within and outside the country.
Our approach today is clear: the Police as a service, in service of the law, the citizens, our compatriots in the diaspora, but also for every foreign citizen visiting our country.
Investments in technology, the increase in human resource capacities, and cooperation with international partners are the pillars upon which we are building this transformation.
The State Police is one of the first contacts and impacts for anyone entering Albania, whether a tourist, investor, or part of the diaspora.
For this reason, we have improved conditions at crossing points, equipped them with contemporary technology, trained Police staff, and continue every day to further improve the impact and assessment that visitors, tourists, and all citizens using the crossing points create for the State Police and, consequently, for our country.
Additionally, we have strengthened community policing, being closer to citizens and more responsive to their needs, especially towards the most vulnerable categories. Security for them is not only a legal obligation but also a moral responsibility.
Special attention has been paid to the tourist season, increasing police presence in coastal and tourist areas, to guarantee order, security, and a positive experience for every visitor.
Albania today is experiencing high tourist flows, and this requires professional management, quick response, and full institutional coordination.
In this framework, the State Police has increased capacities for managing flows, whether at borders, on road axes, or in tourist centers, as well as for efficiently handling any event that may compromise public security.
Meanwhile, the State Police, especially the Border Police structures, are maximally engaged in preventing and managing migratory flows, mainly from the Greek state towards our country, with destination the European Union countries.
In this direction, networks smuggling illegal migrants, organizers and transporters, Albanian citizens, but also foreigners, part of these networks, have been targeted.
We have closely cooperated with partners to prevent illegal trafficking, including here illegal border crossings and providing assistance against profiting from illegal border crossing.
In this context, I want to mention one of the successful cases of cooperation, that with the United Kingdom, where we have drastically reduced the number of people attempting to enter the United Kingdom illegally, as well as those attempting to use Albania as a transit country.
Security remains our absolute priority.
A guaranteed security not only for citizens living in Albania but also for you, our compatriots who return every year, as well as for all the friends who choose our country.
Security is the State Police's passport for millions of tourists and visitors.
I am pleased to declare that no serious criminal incident has been recorded against tourists.
On the contrary, hundreds of cases of providing assistance to tourists in need, for various reasons, have been documented.
What matters most in these cases is not only the engagement of the Police and other institutions, as it is their duty, but also the involvement of citizens, residents of the areas where tourists have sought help, after losing their way or being injured due to the terrain. This is another added value of Albanian identity.
Finally, I want to assure you that the State Police will continue to be in service, with integrity and professionalism, to build a safer, more trustworthy, and more welcoming Albania.