National Civil Police (Guatemala)

The National Civil Police (Spanish: Policía Nacional Civil de Guatemala or PNC) is the police force of Guatemala and is an agency of the Guatemalan Ministry of the Interior. The PNC is in charge of protecting public order.

Logo used by the National Civil Police

History

Upon the signing of the Peace Accords in 1996, the Policía Nacional Civil (PNC) was founded on the 17th of July in 1997 by merging the former National Police and Treasury Guard. Immediately, the force was expanded across all departments of Guatemala, and by August 1999 (just two years later), the PNC managed to cover all 22 departments.

Elements of the National Civil Police.

Currently, six district headquarters, twenty-seven police stations, one hundred and twenty-seven stations, and 343 substations have been deployed across Guatemala. Eight mobile units may also be deployed in Guatemala City to violent areas to control crime.

The PNC training was coordinated by the European Union (EU), which developed the "Program of Support for the National Security Policy" through the Spanish Civil Guard (GCE) in 1997. In terms of criminal investigation, the PNC received support from ICITAP (International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program of the U.S. Department of Justice), and instruction and training in human rights were in charge of the strengthening program of the MINUGUA PNC.

In 2006, a police force called GPC (Civil Protection Guard) was created, the function of which was to protect citizens and ensure public order in areas of high criminal risk. It serves as support to the National Civil Police in those tasks.

In response to pressure from the Mexican government in 2019, the PNC has been called upon to stymy the progression of Central American migrant caravans approaching the Mexico to the North before they can reach the border.[1] The PNC also has played an important part around election season ensuring fair and safe democratic experiences for Guatemalan voters across the country.[2][3] Between June and July 2019, DISETUR and DIPRONA members underwent trainings in basic trauma management with LFR International.[4][5]

Divisions
  • Cadets at their graduation.
    Technical Secretariat (STO)
  • Division of Joint Operations (DOC)
  • Market Police Division (POLIMERC)
  • Division of Special Police Forces (DIFEP)
  • Division of Personnel Protection and Security (DPPS)
  • Division of Supervision and Control of Private Security Companies (DSCESP)
  • Tourism Security Division (DISETUR)
  • Division of Protection of Nature (DIPRONA)
  • Division of Ports, Airports and Border Posts (DIPAFRONT)
  • Motorized Division (DM)

Armament
Assault Rifles
Name Caliber Maker Origin Image
Tavor 5.56 mm Israel Military Industries  Israel
AK-47 7.62 mm Kalashnikov Concern  Russia
M16 5.56 mm Colt's Manufacturing Company  United States
Machine Gun
Uzi 9x19 mm Israel Military Industries  Israel
Pistols
Glock 17 9x19 mm Glock Ges.m.b.H.  Austria
Beretta 92 9x19 mm Beretta  Italy
Jericho 9x19 mm Israel Military Industries  Israel

Ranks

The rank structure of the police is as follows.[6]

RankInsignia
Agent
Deputy Inspector
Inspector
Officer Third Class
Officer Second Class
Officer First Class
Deputy Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner General
Deputy Director General
Assistant Director General
Director General

See also

References
  1. "Ubican a 125 migrantes que iban en buses hacia la frontera con México – Prensa Libre" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  2. "Qué tarea harán mil 24 agentes de la PNC y 600 soldados en Quetzaltenango el día de las elecciones – Prensa Libre" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  3. "Estas son las ocho acciones que implementará la PNC para brindar seguridad en las elecciones – Prensa Libre" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  4. LFR International in Guatemala, retrieved 2019-08-26
  5. Delaney, Peter G.; Figueroa, Jose A.; Eisner, Zachary J.; Andrade, Rudy Erik Hernandez; Karmakar, Monita; Scott, John W.; Raghavendran, Krishnan (2020-04-01). "Designing and implementing a practical prehospital emergency trauma care curriculum for lay first responders in Guatemala". Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open. 5 (1): e000409. doi:10.1136/tsaco-2019-000409. ISSN 2397-5776.
  6. The National Civilian Police in Guatemala
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