Individual Corruption

According to the US Department of State 2010, corruption and impunity within the Albanian police is a persistent problem, aggravated by low salaries of police officers.

Particularly traffic police are notorious for bribe-taking. In January 2010, nine traffic police officers were arrested on charges of corruption. The officers are accused of receiving bribes in the Lushnja-Fier-Vlora highway in order to annul fines for drivers, as reported in a 2010 article by Balkan Insight. In addition, in 2010, several traffic police officers were arrested on charges of corruption and abuse of office for accepting bribes in return for not issuing traffic fines, according to the US Department of State 2010.

Business Corruption

In the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011 companies report that the Albanian police cannot be consistently relied upon to enforce law and order in the country. This is corroborated by the World Bank & IFC Enterprise Surveys 2007, which reveals that more than half of the surveyed companies pay for security in Albania, while more than one-fifth identifies crime, theft and disorder as major constraints to doing business in the country.

Political Corruption

According to Global Integrity 2010, law enforcement agencies are not protected from political interference. Likewise, appointments to the police are often based on non-professional criteria, and party loyalties or personal relationships are often considered. Moreover, law enforcement officials enjoy a general protection from criminal investigations due to a formal immunity. 

Frequency

World Economic Forum: The Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011:
- Business executives give the Albanian police services to enforce law and order a score of 4.5 on a 7-point scale (1 'cannot be relied upon at all' and 7 'can always be relied upon').

The World Bank & IFC: Enterprise Surveys 2007:
- 57% of the surveyed companies pay for security in Albania.

- Nearly 22% of companies surveyed identify crime, theft and disorder as a major constraint on doing business in Albania.