The Volkspolizei – full official name: the Deutsche Volkspolizei (German People's Police), abbreviated to DVP or VP, and colloquially known as the VoPo – was the national police force of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). The Volkspolizei was responsible for most law enforcement in East Germany; however, its organisation and structure were such that it could be considered to be as much a paramilitary as a civilian police force.