Albania’s State Police will establish a new specialized unit focused on environmental crimes, Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari said Monday during a meeting with local police officials from the country’s 12 regions.

Lamallari, alongside State Police Director General Skënder Hita, called for a more proactive approach to wildfires, stressing that police investigations should continue after a fire is extinguished to determine its cause and whether a criminal offense was involved.

“For the Police, a fire does not end when it is extinguished. That is where the question begins: why did it happen, who caused it and whether a criminal act is behind it,” Lamallari said.

He called for suspected fires to be investigated professionally, in close cooperation with firefighters, Civil Emergencies, local communities, forensic experts and prosecutors. He also emphasized the use of technology and specialized expertise to identify evidence and pursue suspected perpetrators.

Lamallari warned of the potentially long-term impact of wildfires on Albania’s forests, questioning how many years or generations may be needed for damaged forest areas to recover.

Meanwhile, State Police Director General Skënder Hita urged local police leaders to strengthen efforts in three key areas: public safety, road safety and maritime security.

Hita called for timely responses both in preventing incidents and in professionally addressing conflicts and concerns raised by citizens.

He also stressed that police performance should not be measured solely by results in the field, but also by how officers interact with citizens and communicate with the media.

“Citizens must feel that the Police are close to them, receive timely answers and see professionalism in every situation,” Hita said.