Increased security of the arms depots under the administration of the Albanian State Police

Implementing Period: November 2022 - August 2024

Budget: US$ 474,770

The project responded to the expressed priority needs of the Albanian law enforcement authorities. As part of SALW control policies, the safety and security of arms and ammunition storages represented one of the priorities of the Albanian Government, identified as such in the National Strategy for the Control of SALW, Ammunition, and Explosives 2019-2024 approved by the Decision of the Council of Ministers in February 2019, and its Action Plan 2019–2021 and the Action Plan 2022-2024. The project aimed to improve and refurbish three top-priority ammunition storages of the Albanian State Police and furnish the ASP evidence rooms of Priority I and, partially, Priority II depots with metal safes for SALW. Such improvement was to follow international standards and best practices, guaranteeing the maintenance, safety, and administration of firearms, ammunition, and explosives throughout their entire life cycle.

Overall achievements:

• Improved infrastructure of the SALW-AE storage environment of the Albanian State Police
  • The three weapons storage facilities at the regional police directorates of Kukes, Lezha and Vlora were rehabilitated, refurbished, and made standard compliant in 2024, thus increasing the total percentage of rehabilitated storages by 3% [out of 94 storages in total].
    • All the envisaged construction works were completed by 29 July 2024, including installation of armored doors, secured windows, CCTV camera system, the fire protection system, alarm system, electric system and the power backup. The final supervision report was issued by the design and supervision company on 21 August 2024, and the testing and commission reports followed on 28 August 2024. Upon successful completion, the official handover took place with the ASP in September 2024.
  • The project compiled relevant training material on physical security and stockpile management (PSSM), printed it into 100 booklets, and delivered it to the ASP for the continuous use of its staff. Coupled with this, the project delivered technical training to relevant ASP staff on the use of the equipment provided by the project (CCTV, alarm system, fire protection system, etc.).
• Albanian State Police structures equipped with adequate standard firearms safes
  • In the effort to increase the security of firearms in the ASP possession, the project provided 120 metal safes for firearms’ safes for ASP facilities across the jurisdiction. This aimed at preventing access by unauthorized or unqualified persons, protect from burglary, but also from other intentional or non-intentional damages.

The project contributed to Roadmap Goal 7 and key performance indicators 12 and 13 of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and their ammunition in the Western Balkans.