United Nations Mission in Kosovo

The United Nations Mission in Kosovo is an international police force providing law enforcement and developing a professional and impartial Kosovo Police Service, trained in democratic police work. It was formed based on the July 12, 1999, report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, created in response to the Kosovo War.

The mission is expected to be temporary; at some point, all police duties should be handed over to local Kosovo police and international officers will support and monitor their activity. There has not yet been any indication when that might occur, though.

As of January 1, 2002, there were 4519 armed international police in Kosovo. 49 countries have sent their officers to serve with UNMIK police.