The Ministry of the Interior directs the activity of the police, border police, fire prevention, preliminary investigation, passport and immigration services, the corrective labour institutions and divisions of the home affairs service. The special VIP Protection Department operates under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior. Its responsibility is to ensure the physical safety of the leaders of the State, as well as of the most important guests visiting Lithuania.

The staff of the Ministry of the Interior are citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and are either police or internal service officials. Police officers are police officials and policemen. Officials of the home affairs service are rank-and-file, non-commissioned, junior and senior officials and generals.

The police
The main goals of the police force are the prevention of crimes and other violations of the law, the disclosure and investigation of crimes, the protection of public order, peace and security, the protection of civil rights, freedoms and property, and, within its powers, environmental protection. Furthermore, the police control traffic safety and offer emergency aid and other means of social assistance to the community.

The unified system of the police force of the Republic of Lithuania consists of the National and Municipal police forces. The structural divisions operate under the authority of the Police Department of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania and the Border Police Department of the Ministry of the Interior.

Agencies of the national and local police operate under the city (district) police departments. The city (district) police departments are appointed by the Minister of the Interior on recomendation of the Police Commissar-General.

The National Police are comprised of the criminal police, public police, traffic police, transport police and special purpose squads. On the order of the Minister of the Interior, other home affairs agencies (migration, fire prevention, etc.) may also operate under the auspices of local police commissariats.

The Transport Police carry out the functions of the criminal and public police within the railway, airline and waterborne transport systems and in the areas subordinated to them.

The Traffic Police exercise road safety control, investigate incidents of violations of traffic reguations and road accidents, institute inquiries concerning road accidents, impose administrative penalties and other measures for traffic violations.