TIRANA, July 17  /ATA/ Minister of Interior Besfort Lamallari has released preliminary crime report data for the first half of 2026, stating that Albania has recorded the lowest level of premeditated murders in its history, attributing the achievement to institutional reforms, the strengthening of the State Police, and increased investment in public security.

In a statement on social media, Minister Lamallari said that a comparative chart of premeditated homicide figures from 2005 to 2026 demonstrates the profound transformation in the country’s public order and security indicators.

 “While Albania recorded an average of 49 premeditated homicide cases annually between 2005 and 2014, that figure has now dropped to just 18 cases, representing the lowest level ever recorded. Over the past decade, the average number of such cases has also been reduced by more than half, falling to 23.4,” Lamallari said.

The minister said the decline was not coincidental, but reflected the impact of reforms introduced by the Albanian government, continued investment in the State Police, and a sustained commitment to tackling crime.

 “This is not a matter of chance, but the result of the Albanian government’s reforms, the continued support and performance of the State Police, the investments made in security, and our determination to stay committed to combating crime,” Lamallari said.

Referring to the “Smart City” project, whose Command and Control Centre was inaugurated a day earlier, Lamallari said that the integration of artificial intelligence, smart cameras, and advanced gunshot detection sensors would take the country into a new phase of crime prevention and response.

“Through technology, innovation, and stronger law enforcement institutions, we are creating security standards befitting a country within the European family, as Albania will be by 2030,” the interior minister said in his post.

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