Public Security Police (Syria)

The Public Security Police (Arabic: شرطة الأمن العام) or Internal Security Forces (Arabic: قوى الأمن الداخلي, romanizedQiwa al-Amn al-Dakhili) is the main police service of Syria.[9] It is charged with maintaining law and order, protecting life and property and investigating crimes. It also performs other routine police functions, including traffic control.

Public Security Police
شرطة الأمن العام
shurtat al'amn aleami
Police emblem of the Damascus Governorate
Common nameSyrian Police, Internal Security Forces
AbbreviationSPSP/ISF
Mottoالشرطة في خدمة الشعب
Police is for the service of people
Agency overview
Formed29 May, 1945[1]
Preceding agency
Employees80,000 (2021)
Annual budgetLS 7,825,000[2]
Jurisdictional structure
National agency
(Operations jurisdiction)
Syrian Arab Republic
Operations jurisdictionSyrian Arab Republic
Size185,180 km2
Population18,437,288
Legal jurisdictionCriminal Code
Governing bodyCriminal Security Directorate
General nature
Operational structure
Overseen byGovernment of Syria
HeadquartersDamascus, Syria
Agency executive
Parent agencyMinistry of Interior
Directorates
List of Directorates
Facilities
Patrol carsOpel Omega B1, Opel Omega B2, Honda Accord,[4] Ford Courier, Beijing BJ212, Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Hilux
Armoured personnel carriersBTR-60, BTR-152, BRDM-2, Shortland Mk 3, Shortland Mk 4[5][6]
Helicoptersat least 2 MI-171SH
Notables
Anniversary
  • 29 May,[7] 4 May (Traffic Police)[8]
Website
http://syriamoi.gov.sy

History

edit

Police system

edit
 
A Syrian police car bonnet, showing official emblem of the Damascus metro police.

The person who manages the police is the Director General, whose superior is the Minister of Interior through the Criminal Security Directorate.[10] Special metropolitan police forces are in Damascus, Aleppo, and other major cities overseen directly by the Director General.[10]

Alongside with other Directorates, the Ministry of Interior controls the Internal Security Forces, through the Criminal Security Directorate, which is organized into six separate divisions of police forces under a Director General: Administrative Police (Public Order Police), Emergency Police, Traffic police (whose official Day is on 4 May), Criminal Investigations, Human Trafficking Department, Electronic Criminal Branch and Riot police, as well as a fanfare and the Khan al-Asal Police Academy.[11] The Internal Security Forces Day is on 29 May, the anniversary of French forces shelling the Parliament building in Damascus in 1945.[7]

The internal security is partially separated from the police, the main internal security agencies of Interior Ministry are: Political Security Directorate and General Intelligence Directorate.[12]

Territorial organization

edit
 
Police station in front of the Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque (1995).

At territorial level, the Syrian police is organized into Police Provincial Commands, each led by a major general, who is assisted by a brigadier general acting as a deputy.[13][14] The Operations Department is directed by another Brigadier General.[15] Districts are headed by Directors ranking from Colonel to Brigadier General,[16] while subdistricts are led by junior officers.

As of October 2021, the Commander of Damascus region is Major General Hassan Jumaa. In 2021, commander of Rif Dimashq was Maj. Gen. Nizar Muhammad Hassan. Also, as of June 27, 2021 Brig. Gen. Dirar Dandel is the commander of Daraa Governorate and Maj. Gen. Deeb Marai Deeb commander of Aleppo Governorate.

In April 2024, new governorate police commanders were appointed. Maj. Gen. Bilal Mahmoud in Rif Dimashq, Maj. Gen. Hussein Jumaa in Hama, Brig. Gen. Yasser Abdel Rahman in Tartus, Brig. Gen. Qusay Tarraf in Deir ez-Zor, Brig. Gen. Abdul Qadir Sultan in Raqqa, and Brig. Gen. Hussein Al-Omar as assistant in Idlib.[17] As of April 2024, Brig. Gen. Muhammad Yasser Shiha is the police commander of Al-Hasakah.[18]

Equipment, uniforms, personnel and training

edit

Police equipment

edit
 
Browning Hi-Power, the main police service pistol.
 
GSh-18, new police service pistol purchased from Russia.

Syrian police equipment is an issue. According to The Telegraph, which cites WikiLeaks, the Syrian police was supplied with advanced radio communications equipment, including 500 hand-held VS3000 radios, by Finmeccanica as late as 2011.[19]

According to pro-militant website Zaman al-Wasl, in 2014 the Ministry of Interior received two Russian MI-171SH helicopters.[20] Regular police units appear to be equipped with the AKM assault rifles and the Browning Hi-Power, Makarov PM, Stechkin-APS and GSh-18 pistols.[21][22] Elite police units, such as Syrian Special Mission Forces, are equipped with AK-103, AK-104 assault rifles and Kord machine guns.[23][24]

Police uniforms

edit
 
A Syrian traffic police officer in Damascus (2014).
 
A traffic police officer carries out traffic in downtown Damascus.

Police uniforms vary according to the police branch which it is considered. Generally speaking, policemen assigned to security tasks wear the military olive green with garrison caps,[25] but also camouflage.[26] Since 2009, the Government has decided to change traffic policemen's uniforms from military olive green to grey pants, a white shirt with yellow shoulder patches and black belt and shoes.[27] As of 2011, Anti-terrorism police wore dark blue uniforms.[28]

Ceremonial uniforms consist in jackboots, white peaked cap and white tunic, with dark trousers with a red trim for infantry and motorcycle units, and white cavalry pants for mounted troopers.[29] or, its task are limited to the protection and enforcement of security.[30] The Internal Security Forces are part of the Ministry of Interior but makes uses of military ranks.[31]

Police vehicles

edit

Personnel

edit

As for total manpower of the Syrian police, in 2011 reportedly were about 100,000 police officers plus reserves,[32] while 2016 estimates put the total force of 28,000 personnel,[33] and 8,000 to 9,000 injured soldiers.[34] Syrian women are allowed to serve (although not in frontline units)[35] and to reach senior positions.[34]

Operating methods

edit
 
Police officer in standard brigadier hat and leather jacket.

The police reportedly undergo military-type[25] and counter-terrorism[35] training. Community policing is also a large element within the country of Syria. Citizens in Syria began using cyber community policing tactics via social media as a way to address the conflict happening around them. Doing so has given them some power to influence change in their environment. Their efforts demonstrate that global cyber community policing programs have the ability to connect communities and create social media networks that can effectively and proactively address, and hopefully prevent, threats to its citizens.

Training

edit

The police reportedly undergo military-type[25] and counter-terrorism[35] training, having a high school in al-Hasakah.[36] Education for all police personnel is provided at three institutes: central Police Training School in Damascus (Damascus Police College),[37] Aleppo (Khan al-Asal Police Academy) and the Officers College in Homs, where junior officers are sent for six-month courses in specialized areas of expertise.[38]

Criminal procedure

edit

Upon arrest, the individual or suspect is brought to a police station for processing and detained until a trial date is set. At the initial court hearing, which is weeks or months after the arrest, the accused may retain an attorney at personal expense or be assigned a court-appointed attorney, although lawyers are not ensured access to their clients before trial.[10] The individual is then tried in court, where a judge renders a verdict. Civil and criminal defendants had the right to bail hearings and possible release from detention on their own recognizance.[10] The prison code provides for prompt access to family members.

In 2024, Minister of Interior Maj. Gen. Mohammad al-Rahmoun issued a circular for all Interior Ministry officials, in which he stressed not to use violence when extracting confessions from arrested persons, in addition to informing the families of arrested persons of their whereabouts.[39]

Criminal Security Directorate

edit

Structure

edit

Since 8 July 2019, the head of the Criminal Security Directorate is General Nasser Deeb, former head of the Hama branch of the Political Security Directorate and former assistant director of the Damascus branch.[40] Within the Criminal Security Directorate there are seven police divisions and branches:

  • Administrative Police Division (also known as Public Order Police: they are responsible for general security and deal with non-emergency situations);[41]
  • Emergency Police Division (deals with emergency situations, operating roving patrols. The emergency number is 112);[41]
  • Traffic Police Division (emergency number is 115);[8]
  • Riot Police Division (riot and crowd control);[42]
  • Criminal Security Department (in charge for general investigative police duties);[43]
  • Human Trafficking Department (in charge of combating human trafficking);[44]
  • Electronic Crime Department (in charge of combating computer and web-based crime. According to newspaper Al-Watan, the Electronic Crime Department has a dedicated cybercrime laboratory).[45]

INTERPOL membership

edit

At the central level, the Directorate is the body in charge for relations with INTERPOL, of which the country has been a member since 1953.[46][47]

As of October 2021, Syria was readmitted to INTERPOL’s global police communications network after being subjected to restrictive measures since 2011, thereby allowing Damascus to access databases, communicate with the other 195 members, and issue international arrest warrants, called "red notices".[48] The Directorate has its own Commission for combating money laundering in cooperation with the Commission of the same name at the Central Bank of Syria.[49][50]

Criminal Security Department

edit

The Criminal Security Department is the subdivision of the Criminal Security Directorate which is in charge for general investigative police duties.[51] Police records in Syria are maintained by the Ministry of Interior, Criminal Security Department and separate records are maintained by each jurisdiction: some jurisdictions are computerized, but there is no central computerized database.[52] It is organized at the provincial level.

Within the Criminal Security there is a subdivision known as the "Department of Protection of Public Moralities", tasked with investigating suspect homosexuals and their activities.[51] Between 2021 and 2024, the director of the Criminal Security Department was Maj. Gen. Hussein Jumaa.[43] In April 2024, Major General Turki Al-Saeed was named as a Director of the Criminal Security Department.

Riot police

edit
 
Syrian riot police in Damascus (2012).

The Riot police (Arabic: شرطة مكافحة الشغب)[53] is part of the Criminal Security Directorate.[42] The Riot police core missions are to provide tactical security, crowd control and riot control for demonstrations.[54] In Damascus, the Riot police is also used in order to protect diplomatic missions against protestors.[55][56]

Syrian Riot Police is organized into battalions and brigades.[57] During the Syrian war, the riot police has been used in order to break early protests; according to pro-opposition opinionists, it even opened fire on demonstrators.[58]

Syrian riot police is issued typical riot equipment, such as riot helmets, tonfa, rubber batons,[59] shields, body armor, bulletproof vests, rubber bullets and plastic bullets.[60][61] Other heavier equipment includes armoured personnel carriers, water cannons,[62] tear gas and pepper spray.[63] The Riot police is also reportedly equipped with armoured vehicles.[64][65] Policemen assigned to security and riot control duty wear the military olive green with garrison caps,[25] but also camouflage.[26]

Anti-Narcotics Directorate

edit

The Anti-Narcotics Directorate, independent from the Criminal Security Directorate since 1996, has responsibility for anti-drug law enforcement and intelligence gathering.[66]

The anti-narcotics establishment was separated from the police in 2002 and made an independent Directorate within the Ministry of Interior. Before the outbreak of the Syrian War, the Government also operated regional counternarcotics offices in Aleppo province and in Homs province, with plans to open offices in the remaining provinces.[67]

The work of the Anti-Narcotics Directorate is specialised in guiding and coordinating efforts aimed at fighting the illicit traffic, plantation and use of drugs, plans the fight against drugs in coordination with other authorities, executes international anti-drugs operations, and collects information on drug crimes.[49]

As of 2006, the Anti-Narcotics Directorate was subdivided into:[49]

  • Internal anti-drug Division;
  • International anti-drug Division;
  • Information Division;
  • Rehabilitation and training Division.

Specialist organizations

edit

Aside of the general police, there are also other specialized organizations, such as the Gendarmerie for control in rural areas and the Border Guard for border control (especially the Syrian-Iraqi border), up to 10,000-men strong.[68][69] These latter two organizations have a military character.

For ceremonial duties, the Internal Security Forces also have a cavalry battalion based in Damascus.[29] Other element of the internal security, albeit separated from the Internal Security Forces and the Ministry of Interior, is the Military Police.

Syrian Special Mission Forces

edit

During the Syrian Civil War, the Ministry of Interior established a quick reaction unit, the Syrian Special Mission Forces.[70] According to Al-Masdar News, the Special Mission Forces have been set up by Russian advisers[71] and are mainly, although not exclusively, intended for urban security actions,[71][72] as well as carrying out force protection and security operations against terrorist activities.[73]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Lawson, Fred Haley (1996). Why Syria Goes to War: Thirty Years of Confrontation. Ithaca, USA: Cornell University Press. p. 163. ISBN 9781501731860.
  2. ^ "Syrian government budget". Syria Direct. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  3. ^ Qaddour, Basma (13 October 2016). "Major General Al-Shater: About 9000 personnel from Internal Security Forces wounded since start of crisis in Syria". The Syria Times. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  4. ^ "SYRIAN POLICE DAY". Military in the Middle East. 21 November 2010.
  5. ^ Stijn Mitzer, Joost Oliemans (22 September 2018). "Hide and Peek, Syria's BRDM-2s". Oryx Blog. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 2015-01-01.
  7. ^ a b "29th May, Syrian Internal Security Forces Day". Syrian Arab News Agency. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Festival held at Umayyad Square on the occasion of World Traffic Day". Syrian Arab News Agency. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Country profile-Syria" (PDF). reliefweb.int. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d "Syria Intelligence & Security Agencies". Global Security.Org. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  11. ^ "En pleine guerre, la police syrienne recrute des musiciens". LaPresse.Ca. Agence France-Presse. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  12. ^ John Pike. "Syria Intelligence and Security Agencies". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
  13. ^ "Deputy police chief in Syria's Latakia flees to Turkey". The Jerusalem Post. REUTERS. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  14. ^ "Assad appoints new police commander to end tension in Hama". en.zamanalwsl.net (in Arabic). 5 December 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Changes in Suweida Internal Security Apparatus". SUWEIDA 24. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Syrian antiquity smugglers apprehended". en.royanews.tv. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  17. ^ قام العميـ.ـد قصي طراف قائد شـ.ـرطة محافظة ديرالزور بجولة تفقدية صباحية لمديرية ناحية موحسن و أمانة السجل المدني فيها للإطلاع على آلية العمل ، حيث أوعز لضبـ.ـاط وعناصر الناحية بتقديم كافة التسهيلات اللازمة للإخوة المواطنين وتدارك الأخطاء والتحلي
  18. ^ "وزير الداخلية: سيبذلون قصارى جهدهم للحفاظ على أمن الوطن والمواطن … برعاية الرئيس الأسد.. قوى الأمن الداخلي تحتفل بعيدها السنوي تخليداً لذكرى حامية البرلمان الوطن". Al Watan.sy. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  19. ^ Squires, Nick (5 July 2012). "WikiLeaks begins publishing tranche of Syria emails". Telegraph. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  20. ^ Hadad, George; Ahmed, Yusra (20 April 2014). "Russia to provide Regime's Interior ministry by fighting helicopters: leaked document". Zaman al-Wasl. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  21. ^ Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  22. ^ Stevens, R. Blake The Browning High Power Automatic Pistol. Collector Grade Publications (1990). ISBN 978-0-88935-089-2.
  23. ^ "In pictures: Elite Syrian security troops preparing to protect Damascus". 3 August 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-10-06. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  24. ^ "Спецназ МВД Сирии опробовал на передовой новые АК-104". 25 February 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  25. ^ a b c d "Photos: Syrian police officers' military education and training". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. 16 March 2012.
  26. ^ a b "Tear gas fired during clashes in Syrian cities". RTÉ. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  27. ^ "Syria Ditches Traffic Cops' Military Uniforms". IWPR. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  28. ^ "Syrian police shoot nine people dead in attack on area sheltering protesters". The Guardian. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  29. ^ a b "Internal Security Forces Day celebrated with activities across the country". Syrian Arab News Agency. 29 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  30. ^ "مهام الوزارة". Syrian Arab Republic Ministry of Interior (in Arabic). Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  31. ^ Sullivan, Larry E; Simonetti Rosen, Marie; Schulz, Dorothy M; Haberfeld, M. R. (15 December 2004). Encyclopedia of Law Enforcement – Volume I. SAGE Publications. p. 1327. ISBN 0-7619-2649-6.
  32. ^ Aid, Matthew (13 December 2015). "Despite Losing 80% of Syria, the Assad Regime In Damascus Still Survives". Matthew Aid. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  33. ^ Aid, Matthew M. (29 February 2016). "Russian High-Tech Weaponry Turning the Tide in Syria". Matthew Aid. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  34. ^ a b "Thousands of Syria's Injured Police Receiving First-class Treatment: Ministry of Interior". The Syrian Observer. Al-Watan. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  35. ^ a b c Sof, Eric (5 July 2017). "Watch Syrian police undergo special CT training". Spec Ops Magazine. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  36. ^ "Graduation of 3nd batch of sergeants, members of Internal Security Forces and police personnel in Hasaka". Syrian Arab News Agency. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  37. ^ "New batch of Internal Security Forces officers graduated". SANA. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  38. ^ Sullivan, Larry E. (April 21, 2005). Encyclopedia of Law Enforcement. SAGE. ISBN 9780761926498 – via Google Books.
  39. ^ ""احتراما لحقوق الإنسان".. السيد اللواء"وزير الداخلية" محمد رحمون يصدر تعميما شدد فيه على عدم استعمال العـــنف عند انتزاع الاعتراف من المقبوض عليهم بالإضافة لإبلاغ ذوي المقبوض عليهم بمكان وجودهم."
  40. ^ "Monday Briefing: Strengthening Egypt's ties with Africa". Middle East Institute. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  41. ^ a b Cordesman, Anthony H.; Nerguizian, Aram; Popescu, Ionut C. (2008). Israel and Syria: The Military Balance and Prospects of War. Center for Strategic and International Studies. p. 196. ISBN 978-0-313-35520-2.
  42. ^ a b COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC (PDF). UK Border Agency COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION SERVICE. 6 February 2009. p. 24. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  43. ^ a b "Syria, Iraq to further cooperate in Criminal Security domain". SANA. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  44. ^ الوزير الرحمون عدم إذاعة البحث عن الأشخاص إلا الذين تتوفر ضدهم أدلة تثبت تورطهم بالجـ.ريمة.
  45. ^ "New Crime Lab to Track Syrians Electronically". Al-Watan. The Syrian Observer. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  46. ^ "Syria". Interpol. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  47. ^ "Cooperation with INTERPOL to surrender wanted persons successful, says Assad regime". Middle East Monitor. 25 July 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  48. ^ "INTERPOL statement on lifting corrective measures applied to Syria". Interpol. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  49. ^ a b c Mutual Evaluation Report Of The Syrian Arab Republic On Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism (PDF). Manama, Bahrain: Middle East & North Africa Financial Action Task Force. 15 November 2006. p. 55. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  50. ^ "CMLTF commission uncovers base of unlicensed currency exchange company in Damascus". الاعلام السورية(مجمعة أخبار). Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  51. ^ a b "Homosexuality in Syria". syriapagebypaige. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  52. ^ "Syria criminal records search". CRS Checks. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  53. ^ "Syria: Security Forces Barring Protesters from Medical Care". Human Rights Watch. New York. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  54. ^ "Syria calls for Arab summit on deepening unrest". TheJournal.ie. The Associated Press. 13 November 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  55. ^ Political Violence against Americans: 2000. DIANE Publishing. 2000. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-4289-6561-4. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  56. ^ "5. 2. 2006. ANTI-EUROPEAN RIOTS HIT DAMASCUS, AS FOUR EMBASSIES ARE STORMED". Aftenposten (in Norwegian Bokmål). 12 October 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  57. ^ "Torture Archipelago". Human Rights Watch. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  58. ^ Al-Hazzani, Amal (22 April 2011). "The revolution takes universities by storm". Asharq Al-Awsat (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  59. ^ Corsun, Andrew (2001). Political Violence against Americans: 2000. DIANE Publishing. p. 20. ISBN 9781428965614. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  60. ^ "Syrian Riot Police Form Ring Around US Embassy". Asharq Al-awsat. 30 October 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  61. ^ "Syrian riot police use rubber clubs to quell protesters". Gulf News. Associated Press. 10 December 2004. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  62. ^ "Three to Five Killed in Deraa Demonstration; Unrest Spreads". Syria Comment. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  63. ^ "Syrian police fire tear gas to control prison riot in Hama city". trend news agency. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  64. ^ "EU steps up sanctions on Syria". www.timesofisrael.com. The Associated Press. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  65. ^ "Rally put on to be pro-Syria". Arkansas Online. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  66. ^ "SYRIA". GINAD – GLOBAL INFORMATION NETWORK ABOUT DRUGS. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  67. ^ "Country Reports – Slovakia through Zambia". U.S. Department of State. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  68. ^ Deep, Daniel (2012). Occupying Syria Under the French Mandate: Insurgency, Space and State Formation. Cambridge University Press. p. 204. ISBN 978-1-107-00006-3.
  69. ^ "Syrian Arab Republic Country of Origin Information (COI) Report" (PDF). Gov.Uk. UK Visas and Immigration. 11 September 2013. p. 42. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  70. ^ "Syrian Army Continue Successful Operations Against Terrorists Across the Country". SYRIA 360° | INTERNATIONALIST NEWS AGENCY. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  71. ^ a b "Interior Ministry's Special Forces Committed to Restore Security to Syrian Cities". en.farsnews.com. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  72. ^ Fadel, Leith (1 May 2017). "Newly formed Syrian Special Mission Forces prove effective against jihadist groups". Al Masdar News. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  73. ^ Neville, Leigh (2019). The Elite: The A–Z of Modern Special Operations Forces. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-2430-1. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
edit