Crime in Monaco

The Direction de la Sûreté Publique (DSP) is Monaco’s territorial police service. Police Judiciaire receives complaints and denunciations, secures evidence and investigates offences under the direction and control of the Procureur général. Police Urbaine handles emergency calls, public order, traffic and contraventions. Police Maritime et Aéroportuaire covers relevant port, airport and border contexts. Cooperation with France exists, but a report concerning an incident in Monaco follows the local DSP and Parquet Général pathway. IMSEE and DSP recorded 1,002 offences in 2019, 712 in 2020, 716 in 2021, 810 in 2022 and 834 in 2023. The 2024 public report shows that offences on public roads fell from 59 in 2022 to 49 in 2023, while alcohol-related driving rose from 101 to 134 cases and public or manifest intoxication rose from 283 to 347. Possession offences involving narcotics increased by 49 percent. Small absolute numbers and a high resident, worker and visitor density mean that official totals cannot provide a general personal safety guarantee. The DSP works on public order, protection of people and property and general crime prevention. Video protection can cover buildings, traffic, people, property and events after authorisation by the Ministre d’Etat; recordings may generally be kept for no more than 30 days, and private homes’ interiors are excluded. Automated vehicle and number-plate checks are used especially at borders, ports, airports and main transit roads. Licensed private security services can support prevention, but they do not receive police powers. Police may also conduct preventive alcohol or drug tests on drivers when the circumstances allow it. In an immediate emergency, call 17 or 112. Police Judiciaire can take a complaint or denunciation; an investigation may begin from a complaint, denunciation, information or an officer’s finding. No reliable general online crime-reporting channel for private individuals has been identified. Preserve the time and place, witness details, photographs, screenshots, URLs and transaction records, and avoid changing original digital evidence. The investigation period is set and can be extended by the Procureur général, so no general completion deadline should be assumed. Aide aux Victimes d’Infractions Pénales (AVIP) is an independent state-approved association offering confidential listening, information, orientation, legal and administrative guidance, psychological support and assistance during proceedings. The free and discreet 3919 service provides information about violence and can connect callers with AVIP; since 2025 it replaces 0800 91 90 10 and is not an emergency number. The Direction de l’Action et de l’Aide Sociales can provide information, emergency accommodation or housing support and child-protection assistance. At immediate risk, protection, medical care and police contact take priority over preserving property. Some victims may seek compensation under Loi 1.555 and Ordonnance 10.640. The scheme concerns natural persons and requires an enforceable Monegasque decision, or a final foreign decision where the victim is a Monegasque national, for relevant sexual offences, offences against children, domestic violence or offences against persons. The application goes to the Direction des Services Judiciaires by deposit or registered mail with French-language documents and proof of enforcement or recovery. Up to EUR 20,000 may be paid in full; amounts above EUR 20,000 are covered at 80 percent up to a maximum of EUR 30,000, with a minimum of EUR 20,000. The available information does not establish a general processing deadline or fee. For cybercrime, the Agence Monégasque de Sécurité Numérique and CERT-MC/CSIRT-MC provide technical prevention, detection and response, especially for public systems and operators of vital importance. Report the technical attack to the relevant cyber-security service and make a criminal report to Police Judiciaire or the Unité de Lutte contre la Criminalité Technologique. Cyber-security reporting duties aimed at operators of vital importance and public systems do not replace a victim’s police complaint. Keep affected devices and files unchanged where possible and record messages, account activity, URLs and payment information. Schools in Monaco have a legal duty to provide a safe school environment. Parents, pupils and staff can report suspected bullying or violence. In the 2022–23 school year, 39 reports were recorded: 10 confirmed cases of harassment, 12 cases of other violence and 17 cases without established violence. Confirmed cases included six in upper secondary school and four in lower secondary school; reported violence was 76 percent verbal and 24 percent physical, and cyberbullying often formed part of the situation. School prevention and support do not replace a police report when conduct may constitute an offence or creates immediate danger.