Tips and recommendations for traveling to Turkey. Police of the Turkish Republic Turkish gendarmes

Let's look at the law enforcement agencies of our beloved Turkey.

In this country, the police are divided into two types - civilian and military.(the so-called gendarmerie). Most often, both structures perform the same functions, but it is worth considering that their tasks are legally different. If you have become a victim of a crime, you should contact the nearest police station, regardless of its type. There is always a person at the police station who speaks English tolerably, but remember - you always have the right to request an interpreter. When contacting law enforcement agencies, do not forget to request a copy of the document indicating the fact of your application.

The police in Turkey are quite strict and have the authority to stop a pedestrian they think is suspicious on the street and search him. That's why Always be sure to have your hotel voucher or passport with you. It is strongly recommended, when communicating with Turkish law enforcement officers, to maintain patience and politeness. Any manifestation of your emotions is most often seen as a sign of lying and hiding guilt. If you are detained for any reason, you have every right to call anyone who can confirm your identity, be it a friend, matchmaker, consul or hotelier.

Civil police consists of several divisions, each of them has its own task, local population treats its representatives with respect. By raising the level of education and pay for police officers, Turkey has increased the level of competence of its officers. They are, for the most part, correct and very polite, and are also able to provide professional assistance (this is due to Turkey's struggle for full membership in the EU). Turkish police officers are in touch a large number of hidden informants among garbage collectors, shoe shiners, bagel sellers, taxi drivers, etc. The knowledge of others about their presence prevents a large number of crimes.

If you see a policeman in a blue uniform - know in front of you city security forces. This structure, in addition to the main tasks of maintaining order, often performs the functions of the traffic police and, which is important for you, has excellent knowledge of the city, so its representatives can provide valuable information on choosing a road.

She stands a little to the side road police, whose employees are perfectly recognizable by their special uniform and small (usually double) compact car, on which the letters TR are displayed (the motor vehicles of this unit have a black and yellow stripe). Their direct responsibilities are to regulate traffic, and they have every right to conduct random searches Vehicle, especially at the entrances to cities.

Istanbul, as well as any other major city, has its own rapid response units, similar to our riot police, called Yunus Polis (“dolphins”). They can be easily recognized by their red and black motorcycles and the same uniform; the employees are distinguished by excellent self-control and good knowledge of English.

Another police unit can most often be found in areas popular with tourists. This tourist police. Its scope of tasks includes everything that may be associated with offenses against foreign nationals on vacation. As a rule, such police officers speak one of the foreign languages: German, English or even Russian.

IN major cities representatives are often found dressed in blue uniforms market police, their duties are to patrol markets and bazaars. They also monitor compliance with trading rules, so they should be contacted in cases of fraud during trading. Their address is in any telephone directory, and their offices are located throughout the city.

This huge army of civilian police is complemented by the real Turkish army - the gendarmerie. It belongs to the country's regular armed forces. Gendarmerie controls border and rural areas (it is worth taking into account that some popular places holidays are located close to greek islands, and relations between Turkey and Greece are very strained). Gendarmes do not always wear uniform; it is not uncommon to see their employees in a jacket and riding breeches. This type of clothing is reminiscent of a French uniform (it is generally accepted that such a costume should not be perceived as threatening). Most The gendarmes are conscripts, they are very polite and helpful to vacationing tourists, and often quickly respond to the problems of vacationers. But the officers of the gendarmerie have been the subject of long-standing and serious criticism for their self-interest, inflexibility and corruption.

Another military police unit can be found in Turkey. They can be recognized by their white helmet with the inscription Aslz, aiguillette and white holster. The law does not give them the right to interfere in the lives of citizens, and you should contact them only in cases of extreme necessity or if a crime was committed by military personnel.

It is very interesting that with such an abundant system of law enforcement services, in all areas in the east of the country, policemen are very rare. These areas, inhabited by Kurds, as well as the former Armenian provinces, are under the control of the army. Moreover, the army in these areas behaves quite harshly. On most roads there are checkpoints, and in the mountains near large cities there are entire systems of checkpoints and bases. Document and cargo checks are constantly carried out on the roads and streets. Secret police and gendarmerie agents dressed in civilian clothes are actively working. Here, without hesitation, they detain and interrogate any person who seems suspicious to them. The interrogations are quite correct, but take a lot of time and are very tiring. Suspicious persons are usually considered people walking alone or with inappropriate behavior. Restlessness and anxiety are strongly discouraged in these areas. The Kurdish zones located along the borders with Iran and Syria are called the “Gray Zone”; visiting them is not prohibited, and local authorities often demonstratively abdicate any responsibility for the safety of foreigners. On the border with Armenia and Iran there is a border zone several hundred kilometers wide. Entry there is permitted only with special permission, which can be obtained from authorized representatives of local law enforcement agencies.

Turkey's security forces have very broad powers, especially in the east of the country, where the situation is tense with the confrontation between the Kurdish underground and the authorities. There are often gendarmerie and army checkpoints where luggage and documents are checked. Foreigners should behave with restraint and calm, without showing emotions. Under no circumstances should you think of photographing any military installations, as well as soldiers in the performance of their duties.

In compliance, it is necessary to take into account the common crimes in any country related to the transportation and storage of narcotic substances, as well as the search for and export of antiquities equated to them, in terms of severity. It is strongly recommended not to make critical remarks regarding local customs, in no case to insult the memory of Ataturk, to respect the currency and flag of the country, as well as to observe moral norms and Islamic customs. Alcohol intoxication is taken into account as a factor aggravating the guilt of the suspect, regardless of the seriousness of the crime.

We hope that knowledge of Turkish law enforcement agencies will help you navigate critical cases. Enjoy your holiday!

While staying in Turkey, tourists are subject to the jurisdiction of local laws. It cannot be said that they are very different from those generally accepted in the civilized world, but it is better to know some features of Turkish legislation in advance, just in case.

Recently, all types of smoking have been banned in Turkey. public transport(including even taxis) and public places - on the streets, in restaurants, in stadiums, etc. Smoking in unauthorized places results in a fine of 62 new Turkish lira.

Turkish law is very strict regarding the use, storage and transportation of drugs and illegal drugs. Violation of these prohibitions can result in penalties ranging from four to twenty-four years.

It is prohibited to export antiques from Turkey. The danger for tourists here may lie in a fairly broad understanding of the concept of antiques. In addition to the obvious - you should not take objects from archaeological sites - beware of buying antiquities from unauthorized points of sale. When purchasing such items, you must be given an appropriate certificate, which you will need to present when leaving the country. Otherwise, if you have antiques, the punishment will not be limited to simple confiscation - such a violation is punishable by imprisonment for a term of five to ten years.

The use of metal detectors is prohibited in Turkey.

Fans of gambling should forget about such entertainment during their trip to Turkey. Casinos have been banned here for many years. Even for visiting an international one you face a fine.

Insulting the Turkish flag, images of the founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, or damaging Turkish banknotes is a crime.

It is mandatory that you have some form of identification with a photograph. On the other hand, if you are afraid that your documents may be stolen and prefer to leave them in a safe, you can carry with you at least a photocopy of your passport with a visible photograph by which you can be identified.

To photograph people in Turkey, you need to get their permission to do so. It is strictly prohibited to take photographs near military and government facilities. Please note that Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey is a special military zone. You need special permission from the government if you want to visit these places.

Homosexuality is not an offense in Turkey, but is highly frowned upon. Its public manifestations will entail sanctions for violating public order.

In Turkey, there are no legally established norms on how exactly one should dress, however, when it comes to clothing, Turks are quite conservative. In general, it is more a question of respect for local residents. It is worth considering that in big cities And tourist centers Turks are more tolerant of the way you dress. If you are going to the outback, it is better to try to dress so that your legs and, for women, also your shoulders are covered. From the point of view of the law, only exhibitionism is a violation. However, not so long ago in Turkey there was a case when a Turkish citizen was convicted of exhibitionism after the wind lifted her wide skirt, completely exposing her legs. Although the court's decision on this issue caused protests, the precedent is disappointing.

Police, Gendarmerie and Tourist Police

If you are involved in an accident, according to Turkish law you cannot move your car, even to clear the roadway, and you must wait for the police or gendarmes to arrive.

If you are a victim of a crime, you also need to contact the police or gendarmerie. But besides this, Turkey also has a special Tourist Police. Its main difference is, in fact, that its employees speak different languages, and in any case at least English, while ordinary police officers may not know foreign languages and speak only Turkish.

Turkish Republic Police

1. Turkish Police: general provisions

The first police units in Turkey arose during the period Ottoman Empire. In 1845, the Police Regulations were adopted, defining the tasks and responsibilities of the police, which at that time performed paramilitary functions. In 1909, the General Directorate of Security of the Turkish National Police was created, and in 1913, the Ministry of Internal Affairs approved Instructions defining the tasks of the Directorate. In 1932, a law on the organization of the police was passed.

The instructions were in effect until the adoption of Law No. 2559 on the Powers and Responsibilities of the Police in 1934. In 1937, Law No. 3201 “On the Organization of Security” was adopted, regulating the rights, responsibilities, and powers of police personnel. In 2008–2009 Major changes were made to the Law.

Currently, the Turkish police are part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic, in which there is a General Directorate of Security.

The responsibilities of the Turkish police include: ensuring public order, safety of citizens and their property; identification and prosecution of offenders; performing other duties prescribed by laws, regulations and government regulations; crime prevention. The police also have political tasks: maintaining the unity of the state and ensuring constitutional order. In addition, the police also carry out administrative functions, including measures to ensure security and assist other authorities.

Police structure

Internal security and protection of public order in Turkey are carried out by three branches of the police:

1) The Directorate General of Turkish National Police, which is responsible for the territories of city municipalities;

2) the General Command of Gendarmerie, which is responsible for rural areas;

3) The Coast Guard Command, which protects the country's coastline.

Let's take a closer look at them.

1. The Directorate General of the Turkish National Police is divided into the Central Organization and territorial divisions.

The central organization has a rather complex structure.

The Turkish Police is headed by a Director General. Seven departments are subordinate to him: the Office, the Directorate of Press and Protocol Relations, the Intelligence Department, the Special Operations Department, the Inspection Department, the Supervisory Authority, and the Police Command Center.

The General Director is assisted by five deputies, each of whom manages several departments. For example, one of the deputies is responsible for international affairs, which includes: international relations, European affairs, the department of borders and migration, and the department for combating organized crime.

Administratively, Türkiye is divided into provinces, cities and districts. In accordance with this division, Turkey has: 81 provincial police directorates, 751 provincial police directorates, 22 border checkpoint directorates, 18 free zone police stations, 834 police stations.

The central organization is subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In the provinces, the heads of police agencies are promptly subordinate to the provincial governors (vali) and district heads (keymakam).

The structure of the central and regional police forces is determined by the law enforcement units, which operate within the civil administrative system and carry out their duties under the authority and control of the civil authorities. The work of the unit is carried out under the supervision of the heads of cities and districts.

Scheme No. 1

2. Turkish Gendarmerie

is a paramilitary armed organization for maintaining security and law and order. It was created and operates on the basis of the Law “On the organization, duties and powers of the gendarmerie”.

The Gendarmerie is responsible for maintaining security and public order and performs other functions prescribed by laws and regulations. The General Command of the Gendarmerie is subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior. The area of responsibility of the Gendarmerie lies outside the territorial area of police activity.

The Gendarmerie performs four main functions:

1) administrative: crime prevention; detection and investigation of smuggling cases; Department of Corrections security;

2) legal: detection, arrest and transportation of offenders, transfer of evidence in criminal cases to the relevant authorities;

3) military: in accordance with the instructions of the High Command, ensures compliance with the military laws and rules of the country;

4) other: performs other duties prescribed by laws, regulations and government regulations.

The General Command of the Gendarmerie directs the following units:

a) the headquarters of the General Command Unit of the Gendarmerie and assigned units;

B) security units;

B) border units;

d) educational institutions;

e) administrative units and logistics units.

Scheme No. 2

3. Coast Guard

The Turkish Coast Guard was established by the 1982 Coast Guard Law. The Coast Guard carries out its tasks in territorial, inland waters Turkey, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

The Turkish Coast Guard performs the following tasks:

a) protection of the safety of territorial waters;

b) ensuring the safety of life and property at sea;

c) preventing smuggling activities carried out at sea;

d) search and rescue operations in Turkey's area of responsibility;

e) prevention of marine pollution.

The Turkish Coast Guard Command is based in Ankara. Under his leadership there are four regional commands in the areas:

a) the Black Sea;

b) the Sea of Marmara and the straits;

B) Aegean Sea;

G) Mediterranean Sea.

Coast Guard Headquarters includes the Directorate of Training and Education, the Air Support Directorate, the Coast Guard Supply Center, and six Coast Guard groups reporting to regional commands.

4. Police officers

Each of the three branches of the Turkish police has its own requirements for employees.

A. Employees of the Directorate General of Security

Turkey's General Directorate of Security consists of police officers, commanding officers (of various ranks) and civil servants. The command structure includes the following ranks: CEO Turkish police, police superintendent ranks 1–4, superintendent, chief inspector, inspector, deputy inspector, police officer.

Turkish police personnel receive two types of education:

– on-the-job education provided by the Education Department of the General Directorate of Security;

– preparatory professional course for the Police Academy. The Academy provides five different programs: basic education (Professional Police Graduate School; 2 years);

Studying for a Bachelor's degree (Institute of Security Sciences; 4 semesters);
Postgraduate studies (Institute of Security Sciences; 4 semesters);
studying at public higher education institutions in Ankara; management education.

Two police colleges (in Ankara and Bursa) are directly subordinate to the Directorate General of Security. There are also other educational institutions that provide on-the-job training for experts, such as the Turkish International Anti-Drug and Organized Crime Academy and the Crime Investigation Research and Education Center.

5. Gendarmerie employees

The Gendarmerie employs: officers, sergeants, specialized gendarmes, specialized sergeants, cadets, conscripts and conscripts, as well as civil servants and workers.

The number of officers includes: second lieutenants of the gendarmerie who graduated from the Military Academy; contract officers; non-commissioned officers of the Gendarmerie.

Second lieutenants of the Gendarmerie who graduated from the Military Academy and non-commissioned officers of the Gendarmerie undergo training in legal, administrative, military and other units of the Gendarmerie. They attend the Gendarmerie Officers' School for a year, after which they undergo a four-month "Commando Course" at a special school. Gendarmerie officers who have successfully completed training serve in the district units of the Gendarmerie.

Sergeants (non-commissioned military personnel) include: a) sergeants (graduates high school), studying at vocational schools for non-commissioned military personnel; b) specialized gendarmerie: sergeants and female sergeants serving on a contract basis (certified specialists who graduated from a technical university or college) who have completed the Basic Training Course for Gendarmes - NCOs.

The specialized gendarmerie includes graduates of special schools, colleges, technical special schools and universities. Employees of the Specialized Gendarmerie receive military and professional education at the Specialized School of the Gendarmerie for a year. Upon completion, they undergo a six-month internship in the places where they will serve.
Specialized sergeants are divided into:

a) military personnel of special forces;

b) military personnel and sergeants not included in special forces.

Sergeants, corporals and special forces personnel are conscripted by the Department of National Defense under the Military Service Act.

Civil servants are hired by the General Command of the Gendarmerie.

6. Coast Guard Personnel

The Turkish Coast Guard personnel consists of officers; sergeants; sergeants and contract soldiers; civil servants.

After graduating from the Naval Academy or the Turkish Maritime Vocational High School for Sergeants, Coast Guard officers and non-commissioned officers receive specialized education by attending the Basic "Coast Guard Course" at the Training and Education Center.

Civil servants from among the graduates of the relevant faculties of the country's universities are hired for positions for which training is not carried out in military educational institutions. Training of civilian employees takes place at their workplace with the assistance of the Coast Guard Training and Education Office.

The military personnel of the Coast Guard includes the following ranks: vice admiral of the coast guard, rear admiral, captain 1–3 ranks, captain, lieutenant, junior lieutenant, midshipman, senior sailor, sailor.

More than half of Turkish citizens who are able to hold a smartphone and remember their password necessarily spend part of their time on the Internet and social networks. Many have heard that the Turkish authorities are closely monitoring what is happening not only in the media, but also in such popular services as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube. This was confirmed by repeated blocking of Internet sites, but is the “big Turkish brother” really watching your every word? The answer to this question is given by CNN Turk,…

From June 1, 2018 on the streets of the southern Turkish city New security officers are leaving Antalya - municipal security guards (Bekçi), the city police department reports. There are already patrols of this kind in many large cities in Turkey and you can recognize them by their sand-colored (summer) or marsh-colored (winter) uniforms. Antalya Governor Münir Karaloglu was present today at the solemn “initiation” ceremony of municipal security officers and wished easy work to the first 170 recruits who successfully completed the necessary training and received…

In the 25 largest shopping centers Ankara police officers began to be on duty on a permanent basis as part of new program"AVM Polisi". This was announced by the head of the Ankara Security Department, Servet Yilmaz. Now, in addition to private security companies, police squads will keep order. Security guards will be able to instantly report offenses or suspicions to police officers, who have much more rights, in particular: carrying weapons, conducting a search, the possibility of detaining a suspect, checking documents, etc. As stated by the head of the Ankara police, Servet Yilmaz, this...

Posted in Tags,

The Istanbul Security Department, together with the Road Control Department, carried out a large-scale special operation on Monday, targeting drivers of the private international carrier Uber. According to Turkish media, all suspicious minibuses in the Kadikoy district of Istanbul were subject to inspection. Traffic police officers checked the documents of not only the driver, but also passengers to identify Uber drivers. According to official data, fines totaling 21,042 liras were issued to 5 drivers for illegally transporting passengers and illegally engaging in commercial activities...

Posted in Tags,

On Tuesday morning, residents of one of the prestigious residential complexes In the Bayrampasa district of Istanbul, they saw a terrifying picture on the balcony of one of the 25-storey buildings, after which they called the police. According to the Turkish press, a woman was hanging motionless from the balcony of the 12th floor, suspended from the railing by her neck with a belt. A rescue truck was called to the scene, whose employees removed the lifeless body from a 30-meter height. According to police, the body belongs to 35-year-old Ukrainian citizen Olena Tyhly. The investigation, which is leaning towards the version of suicide,...

Posted in Tags,

Istanbul's 1st Serious Crimes Court revised the punishment for a 20-year-old police officer with the initials H.D.S., who is accused of unintentionally killing a student at one of the lyceums in the Esenyurt district. Previously, the court sentenced the policeman to 11 years in prison, but the relatives of the deceased teenager did not agree with the verdict and filed an appeal. On February 16, 2017, two police officers detained 16-year-old Omer Barış Topkara and his friend on suspicion of theft. After handcuffing the teenagers, the police took the boys to the state...

Posted in Tags,

The prosecutor's office of the Istanbul district of Bakirkoy has prepared an indictment for a 27-year-old police officer with the initials S.E., who faces 12 to 18 years in prison for sexual assault. According to the Hurriyet publication, citing the case materials, on the evening of January 6, 2018, a 28-year-old girl with the initials P.T. I was returning home from Taksim Square. Walking along one of the streets, she was stopped by a police patrol car with S.E. and his partner R.Y. S.E., recognizing the girl, offered to take her home...

Posted in Tags,

Ukrainian and Turkish law enforcement officers exchanged experience in the field of combating human trafficking and illegal migration, and also agreed to conduct training for Ukrainian police officers. According to the Communications Department of the National Police of Ukraine, these issues were discussed on Tuesday as part of the visit of the National Police delegation to Turkey. Thus, the first deputy head of the department, Vyacheslav Abroskin, met with the Deputy Chief Security Officer of the Republic of Turkey, Erhan Gulveren, and the head of the Department for Combating Organized Crime and Smuggling, Rasul Khologlu. The event was attended by an extraordinary…

Posted in Tags,

Today we decided to tackle such a pressing issue as security in Turkey. It has acquired particular relevance in last years due to the intensification of international terrorist groups, and indeed the increase in crime around the world. But this does not mean at all that you should be scared, panic, hand over the purchased tickets, urgently wind down your business in Turkey, or, if you are already here, crawl under the bed and shake with fear. On this moment we can assure you with complete confidence that Turkey is quite CALM. And if you take minimal precautions, you can pack your suitcases back and even crawl out from under the bed into the fresh sea air.

In general, Turkey has a relatively low crime rate. Although currently organized crime in Turkey, as in any other country in the world, remains one of the pressing problems, criminal groups operate in casinos, nightclubs, in businesses regulating drug trafficking, arms trafficking, prostitution, and other areas. In an attempt to eradicate this scourge, Turkey's police are using aggressive tactics in investigating and arresting suspects, while the country's judiciary is supporting the crackdown through trials and sentencing.

Street crime rates in Turkey are comparatively low, although they are increasing in metropolitan areas such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Just like in other urbanized areas around the world, street crime here is represented by pickpocketing and robberies of passers-by.

Tourists risk being robbed if they are distracted by a fake fight or street brawl, with women being the easiest targets. We also strongly recommend that tourists keep an eye on their bags and purses in places with large crowds of people, such as bazaars and central parts of cities. Guests are strongly advised to leave their passport at hotels, as losing or stealing a passport can disrupt your plans and result in unexpected costs of time and money to recover it. It is better to carry a clear photocopy of your passport with you as proof of identity.

Regarding the “fooling” of tourists and foreigners in general, let us remind you that in no case should you trust the first price mentioned by the seller for anything, be it a kilogram of apricots, trousers, a tour or a car for rent, and the ideal option would be to get acquainted with the average prices for the desired goods in Turkey in advance from local friends or on the Internet, including communities of compatriots on social networks.

It also happens that tourists are invited to clubs or bars where they are given inflated bills (often over $1,000) and asked to pay with a credit card. Residents of apartments on the ground floors usually suffer from burglaries, which have increased in large cities. Therefore, as a rule, the windows of apartments on the lower floors are protected by bars.

Street crime is a problem in every major city in the world. However, relatively few tourists fall victim to thieves, and those who take sufficient security measures are less likely to become victims of criminals.

What to do if you are a victim of a crime in Turkey

Under no circumstances should you try to deal with criminals on your own or engage in lynching. This is extremely dangerous and can lead to tragic consequences. Call the police immediately. Below are local phone numbers emergency services:

— Police: 155 (all over Turkey)

— Gendarmerie: 156 (all over Turkey)

— Economic police (Zabita): 153

— Drug control: 171

— Fire Department: 199

— Ambulance: 112

— Citizen protection: 101

— Coast security: 158

— Roadside assistance: 154

— Tourist police: 0212 527 45 03

— Help for women: 183

In Turkey, police officers wear blue uniforms and caps. Patrol cars can be identified by their blue and white colors and the inscription “ Polis ” on the doors and hood. Police lieutenants and captains wear silver stars on their epaulettes, while high-ranking police officers wear gold stars.

There is also a special police unit in Turkey « Yunus« . The police are dressed in red and black uniforms and travel on motorcycles. They are given extended powers, such as shooting without warning...

In recent years, the problem of terrorism has become acute throughout the world. Turkey in 2015-2016 There were many terrorist attacks in large cities, which seriously frightened both tourists and those wishing to do business here, but now there is a downward trend in them. This is due to the protests of the Kurdish population and the war in Syria. IN tourist areas Due to enhanced security measures, the threat of terrorism is minimized. And although the situation with terrorism has stabilized, it would still be a good idea to avoid large gatherings of people if possible and refrain from traveling to the southeast of the country, near the border with Syria.