Department of Magical Law Enforcement

• Type: Ministry of Magic Department; Primary Law Enforcement Body
• Location: Level Two, Ministry of Magic Headquarters, Whitehall, London, England
• Owner/Residents: Notable Heads of Department include Bartemius Crouch Sr., Amelia Bones, Pius Thicknesse (under the Imperius Curse), Yaxley, and Harry Potter (Pottermore).
• Key Features: Responsible for the creation and enforcement of wizarding law, the apprehension of criminals, and providing administrative services for the Wizengamot, the wizarding high court.

The Department of Magical Law Enforcement is the largest and arguably most important department within the British Ministry of Magic. It serves as a combination of a police force and a justice system for the magical community of Great Britain. Its offices are located on Level Two of the Ministry of Magic headquarters. The area is described as a corridor lined with doors leading to its various subdivisions, including the Auror Office and the Improper Use of Magic Office. The atmosphere is typically busy and purposeful, with wizards and witches bustling through the corridors on official business. Throughout its history, the department's integrity and effectiveness have varied significantly depending on the Minister for Magic and the political climate. During the First Wizarding War, under the stern leadership of Bartemius Crouch Sr., the department was granted extraordinary powers to combat Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters, authorizing Aurors to use the Unforgivable Curses. Under Cornelius Fudge's administration, the department was often used as a political tool. It was instrumental in the campaign to discredit Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore, culminating in Harry's disciplinary hearing before the full Wizengamot for performing a Patronus Charm in the presence of a Muggle. The head of the department at this time, Amelia Bones, presided over the hearing fairly and was instrumental in clearing Harry of all charges. Following Lord Voldemort's return to power, the department was compromised from within. After the murder of Amelia Bones and the fall of the Ministry of Magic, Death Eater Yaxley was installed as its Head. Under his command, the department became an instrument of terror, enforcing anti-Muggle-born legislation and persecuting opponents of the new regime through the Muggle-Born Registration Commission. After the Battle of Hogwarts and the defeat of Voldemort, the department was reformed under the new Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt.

The Department of Magical Law Enforcement is central to the interaction between the protagonists and the official wizarding world. Its actions and failures drive much of the plot.

• In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the Improper Use of Magic Office sends Harry a warning letter for a Hover Charm cast by Dobby.
• In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the department is involved in the case against Buckbeak the Hippogriff.
• In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the department's failings are highlighted by the escape of Bartemius Crouch Jr. from Azkaban and the murder of Bartemius Crouch Sr. by his own son while on Ministry business.
• In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry is brought before the Wizengamot at the department's headquarters. Members of the department, including Aurors Nymphadora Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt, later fight against Death Eaters in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.
• In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger infiltrate the Ministry and the department to retrieve Salazar Slytherin's Locket from Dolores Umbridge, witnessing firsthand its corruption under Voldemort's control.

The Department of Magical Law Enforcement is composed of several distinct offices and squads, each with specific responsibilities.

• Auror Office: An elite unit of highly trained Dark wizard catchers. It serves as the primary force against major threats like Death Eaters.
• Improper Use of Magic Office: Responsible for monitoring and penalizing violations of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Statute of Secrecy. Mafalda Hopkirk worked in this office.
• Wizengamot Administration Services: Provides administrative and clerical support for the Wizengamot court. It is located on the same level.
• Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office: Investigates and confiscates Muggle items that have been bewitched with Dark Magic or potentially dangerous enchantments. Arthur Weasley was the head of this small office for many years.
• Magical Law Enforcement Squad: The general patrol division of the department, responsible for day-to-day policing and responding to magical disturbances. They were sent to investigate the grounds of Hogwarts after Bartemius Crouch Sr. was discovered.
• Hit Wizards: A specialized unit that functions as a magical police force, tasked with arresting dangerous criminals. This was mentioned as a potential career path for students.

• J.K. Rowling has stated that following the Second Wizarding War, Harry Potter joined the Auror Office at the age of 17, under the leadership of Kingsley Shacklebolt. (J.K. Rowling interview)
• Harry later became the youngest-ever Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. (Pottermore)
• Ron Weasley also became an Auror, working with Harry for a time before leaving to help his brother George Weasley run Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. (J.K. Rowling interview)
• Hermione Granger began her post-Hogwarts career in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures but later transferred to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, where she achieved a high-ranking position and worked to eradicate oppressive, pro-pure-blood laws. (Pottermore, J.K. Rowling interview)