Lithuanian parliament allows youth up to 20 to serve as junior police assistants

The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has approved amendments to the Police Supporters Law, raising the maximum age for junior police supporters from 18 to 20 years, LRT reports.

The changes, adopted unanimously by 104 MPs on Thursday, aim to strengthen cooperation between the public and the police. Under the new rules, individuals aged 12 to 20 who are enrolled in general education programmes can now serve as junior police supporters. Their duties include assisting territorial police and educational institutions in preventing juvenile crime and other legal violations, as well as fostering a safe environment in and around schools.

Current regulations allow individuals aged 18 and older with at least a secondary education to become police supporters, provided they are Lithuanian citizens or permanent residents of another EU member state with a command of the Lithuanian language. Junior police supporters who meet personal and moral standards may also transition into full police supporter roles.

The amendments, initiated by MPs Andrius Bagdonas and Linas Urmanavičius, address what they described as an “absurd” legal gap. Previously, 18-year-olds without a secondary education diploma could neither continue as junior police supporters nor become full police supporters.

The new regulations will take effect in July of this year.