Crime in Kosovo

In 2025, Kosovo Police recorded 50,310 total cases, including 27,038 criminal offences, 16,482 arrests and 5,886 detentions. Police reported action against 22 criminal groups, the confiscation of 1,931 firearms and 39,116 rounds of ammunition, and 1,711 serious-crime investigations involving 316 operations, 1,515 arrested suspects, 661 detainees and 867 raids. These figures describe police-recorded activity rather than the total prevalence of crime, and underreporting remains a significant limitation. Property crime was numerically dominant. Police recorded 3,613 thefts, 2,087 serious thefts and 66 robberies in 2025. The same records list 19 murders, 226 cases of serious bodily injury and 2,509 domestic-violence cases. Compared with 2024, murders increased by 11.76 percent and serious bodily injury by 3.66 percent, while theft, serious theft, robbery and domestic violence declined slightly. The 2025 records include 750 new narcotics cases, 961 arrests, 581 charges involving 827 suspects, 261 trafficking cases and 406 possession cases. Organised and serious crime reporting lists 113 cases, including 38 threats and 8 weapons-smuggling cases. The supplied police breakdown contains both a 147-case human-trafficking total and a separate 9-case trafficking line; it also records 7 identified victims, 22 potential victims in other related crimes and 51 victims assisted. Economic and corruption investigations totalled 271 cases, including 130 corruption cases and 10 fraud or forgery cases. Cybercrime records list 47 cases, 30 arrested suspects and 27 charges involving 35 suspects. Call 192 when a crime is happening, someone faces immediate danger or urgent police assistance is needed. Kosovo Police also provides the fixed or mobile number 038 550 999, the anonymous, confidential and free number 0800 19999, and local police stations. For a cybercrime incident, use the Kosovo Police form Raporto krimin kibernetik. Preserve screenshots, URLs, account details, payment records and relevant devices, and avoid confronting a person who may pose a serious risk. Kosovo Police combines public-order work, patrols, criminal investigation, border policing, intelligence-led policing and community policing. Its 2025 prevention work focused on students, drug abuse, bullying and domestic violence. The community division held 153 meetings with institutions and NGOs, organised 87 conferences, roundtables and workshops, and approved 14 projects. Police has seven Regional Police Directorates covering Prishtina, Mitrovica South and North, Gjilan, Ferizaj, Prizren, Peja and Gjakova. Practical availability can differ by municipality, and the security situation in North Kosovo remains more fragile, with additional police resources and attention required there. The Office for Victims Advocacy and Assistance, known as VAAO or OVAA, represents victim interests and provides information, counselling, crisis-safety guidance, direct reporting support and referrals. Its free 24-hour helpline is 0800 11112. The Ministry of Justice emergency line established under Administrative Instruction 01/2025 is also free, confidential and available around the clock in the official languages, with sign-language access. Shelters, Centres for Social Work, municipal coordination mechanisms, specialised licensed providers and victim-support organisations may become involved according to the case. Health institutions provide free first aid and psychological support for domestic-violence victims, and a medical report may support evidence. The Free Legal Aid Agency and specialised NGOs can assist people who meet the relevant financial or eligibility conditions. No general police-report fee is identified in the supplied information. Domestic violence is addressed within the policy framework of Law No. 08/L-185. Police is the first service provider, and a report can be made at any time through 192. Victim advocates, prosecutors, courts, municipal directorates, Centres for Social Work, shelters and civil-society organisations coordinate through municipal mechanisms. Electronic monitoring of protection orders began in December 2024, with eight court orders reported under monitoring. Nurses, teachers and police officers have mandatory reporting duties when they identify evidence of child abuse or domestic violence, and failure to report child abuse or domestic violence can lead to criminal liability. Children may face physical punishment, psychological aggression, bullying, grooming, sexual exploitation, image-based abuse and other forms of violence. An assessment reported that more than 60 percent of children aged 1 to 14 experienced physical punishment or psychological aggression, rising to 70 percent among Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian children. Evidence on school bullying and violence remains limited, school psychologists are insufficient, and assessments identify gaps in child protection houses and child helplines. Child protection can involve Kosovo Police, Centres for Social Work, municipal child-protection structures, health and education services, victim advocates and shelters. Child victims and witnesses require child-sensitive handling. Children generally enter the juvenile-justice system between ages 14 and 18 when they are in conflict with the law. The Juvenile Justice Code provides for diversion, restorative and educational measures, police warnings, mediation, community service, rehabilitation and reintegration. Assessments for 2023 and 2024 reported formal diversion in 10 percent of cases, prosecutorial discretion in 33 percent and court referral in 67 percent; implemented diversion measures increased from 237 in 2023 to 305 in 2024. Implementation differs between prosecution offices. The State Prosecutor, Kosovo Police, courts, Probation Service, Centres for Social Work, Justice Academy and Kosovo Correctional Service all have roles, while detention is intended as a last resort. For digital crime, Kosovo Police handles criminal complaints and the Cybersecurity Agency, including the National CERT, supports cyber prevention and incident response. The National Cyber Security Strategy 2023–2027 focuses on cyber hygiene, public-private cooperation, critical-infrastructure resilience and national incident response; it does not replace a criminal complaint to Police. Common child-related online risks include cyberbullying, hate speech, grooming, sexual exploitation and image-based abuse. Use privacy controls, strong unique credentials and multi-factor authentication where available, report harmful material to the platform and preserve evidence before escalation. Dark-net investigations remain difficult. Road traffic is a major everyday safety concern. Police recorded 24,150 accidents in 2025, including 100 accidents with fatal consequences, 111 deaths, 8,842 injury accidents and 16,681 injured people, alongside 785,107 traffic tickets. Speeding, ignored signs and distracted driving are recurring risks. Police prevention combines education, infrastructure inspections, operational plans and community campaigns. Using licensed or known transport, avoiding distracted driving and keeping emergency contacts available reduce avoidable exposure. Border-related crime includes trafficking, drugs and weapons smuggling and can involve Kosovo Police, Customs and other agencies.