General Directorate of Security

The General Directorate of Security (Turkish: Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü, EGM) are the civilian police force responsible for law enforcement in Turkey.

Structure

In the provinces, it operates under the command of governors (Turkish: vali) and district governors (Turkish: kaymakam). Civil administrators (Turkish: mülki amir) are responsible for the security and wellbeing of towns and districts. The Turkish national Police (TNP) operates within the network of the civil administration system and carries out its duties under the command and control of the civil authority. Town governors and heads of district administrations supervise the force.^[1]

The TNP is organised as follows:^[2]

• Central organisation
• Provincial organisation
  • 81 Directorates of Provincial Police
  • 751 Police Directorates of Towns affiliated to Provinces
  • 22 Border Gates Police Directorates
  • 18 Free-Zone police stations
  • 834 police stations in 81 Provinces

Function and mission

In general, the police’s realm of responsibility is geographically located inside the municipal boundaries in Turkey. In accordance with the “Law on Duties and Powers of the Police”, the duties of the Police are to:^[3]

• provide public peace and order
• provide security of persons and properties
• detect, arrest and transfer both offenders and case evidence to the appropriate judicial bodies
• perform duties apart from the administrative such as judicial assigned by laws, regulations and government acts
• prevent crime in order to protect public safety and order

The TNP also has political duties such as the protection of the integrity of the state and the preservation of constitutional order. Furthermore, the TNP has administrative functions, including preventive, protective and assistance duties.

A Traffic Services Department, a Highways Traffic Security Council and a Supreme Board for Highway Security have been established in order to deal with traffic problems more effectively.

The TNP hosts the Istanbul Conference on Democracy and Global Security.^[4]

Units

All Turkish police officers wear navy-blue uniforms and caps. Patrol cars can be identified by their unique blue-white design and the writing “Polis” (Turkish for 'Police') on the side doors and hood. Superintendents and inspectors wear silver stars rank on their shoulders. Highest-ranking officers wear gold stars.

• 

  Çevik Kuvvet armpatch

• 

  Naval armpatch

• 

  Traffic armpatch

• 

  General Service armpatch

• 

  Airport armpatch

Some well-known police units in Turkey are:

• Martılar (English: Gulls) bike patrol units
• Yunuslar (English: Dolphins) motorcycle units
• Şahinler (English: Falcons) motorcycle units of the traffic department.
• TOMA's armored water cannon designed for riot control.
• Çevik Kuvvet (English: Agile Force) who handle riot control cases.
• Özel Harekat(English: Special Operations) which is the special response unit of the directorate (quite like the American SWAT or the German GSG 9).
• Karşı Atak Timi (English: Counter Attack Team) close protection service for Prime minister and president.

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  Motorcycle unit Yunuslar

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  TOMA water cannon in Istanbul, 2013

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  Police patrol boat

Training

The TNP receives two categories of training, the first being in-service training provided by the Department of Education operating directly under the General Directorate of Security; whereas pre-profession training is provided by the Police Academy. The Police Academy offers five different training programs:

• Undergraduate Education (Police Professional High Schools; 2 years);
• Bachelor’s Degree Education (Security Sciences Faculty; 4 years);
• Postgraduate Training (Security Sciences Institute; four semesters);
• Training at State Higher Educational Institutions in Ankara;
• Management Training (Security Sciences Institute; Higher Level Management Training for Third Degree Chief Superintendents and in-service Mid-Level Management Training for Chief Inspectors.

Two Police Colleges (high school), in Ankara and Bursa, also operate directly under the General Directorate of Security. There are other educational institutions that give expert in-service training, such as the Turkish International Academy Against Drugs and Organized Crime and the Crime Investigation and Research Education Center.

Equipment

Handguns

• Yavuz 16^[5]
• Sarsılmaz Kılınç 2000^[6]

Submachine guns

• Heckler & Koch MP5^[7]

Riot Control

• FN 303^[8]
• Milkor MGL

Vehicles

• Otokar Akrep^[9]
• Otokar Cobra^[10]
• Nurol Ejder^[11]
• BMC Kirpi^[12]
• TOMA^[11]

Aircraft

• Beechcraft Super King Air^[13]
• Bell 206^[14]
• Bell 429^[14]
• MD Helicopters MD 600^[14]
• Sikorsky S-70

See also

• List of Chiefs of the General Directorate of Security
• Istanbul Chief of Police

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Police of Turkey.

• General Directorate of Security (Turkish)
• Directorate of Security, Foreign Relations Department
• Police Association
• Uniforms of the General Directorate of Security

Law enforcement in Turkey National General Directorate of Security Gendarmerie General Command Coast Guard Command Directorate General of Coastal Safety General Directorate of Forest Protection General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses Local Municipal police Village guard system Intelligence National Intelligence Organization Undersecretariat of Public Order and Security Genelkurmay İstihbarat Daire Başkanlığı Jandarma İstihbarat ve Terörle Mücadele Government National Security Council Ministry of the Interior Borders General Directorate of Customs Protection General Directorate of Border Protection