Egyptian National Police: Difference between revisions
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According to writer [[Ahdaf Soueif]], since 2005 the police have routinely grabbed women protesters and torn "their clothes off and beat them, groping them at the same time. The idea was to insinuate that females who took part in street protests wanted to be groped." To protect against this, many female protesters wear "layers of light clothing, no buttons, drawstring pants double-knotted".<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/dec/18/egypt-military-beating-female-protester-tahrir-square ''Image of unknown woman beaten by Egypt's military echoes around world''], Guardian, retrieved 19/12/2011</ref> |
According to writer [[Ahdaf Soueif]], since 2005 the police have routinely grabbed women protesters and torn "their clothes off and beat them, groping them at the same time. The idea was to insinuate that females who took part in street protests wanted to be groped." To protect against this, many female protesters wear "layers of light clothing, no buttons, drawstring pants double-knotted".<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/dec/18/egypt-military-beating-female-protester-tahrir-square ''Image of unknown woman beaten by Egypt's military echoes around world''], Guardian, retrieved 19/12/2011</ref> |
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==Gallery== |
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File:The Mahmal which Conveyed the Holy Carpet to Mecca Surrounded by Cairo Police. (1911) - TIMEA.jpg|Cairo police in 1911 |
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File:Police on a camel in front of the Red Pyramid in Dahshur.jpg|Police on a camel in front of the Red Pyramid in Dahshur.jpg |
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File:Flickr - dlisbona - Policeman on the phone.jpg| |
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<nowiki>File:Day of Anger riot police close.jpg|[[Central Security Force]] riot police</nowiki> |
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==See also== <!-- if any of these issues are integrated into the main body of the article, remove them from this list --> |
==See also== <!-- if any of these issues are integrated into the main body of the article, remove them from this list --> |
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*[[Central Security Forces]] |
*[[Central Security Forces]] |
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Revision as of 13:09, 2 July 2013
 | This article needs to be updated. (February 2011) |
Law Enforcement in Egypt is the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior of Egypt.
National organization
The Ministry of Interior divides the functions of the police and public security among four Deputy Ministers of Interior while the Minister of Interior himself retained responsibility for state security (El Mukhabarat).[1] investigations and overall organization.
There are four Deputy Ministers:
- Public Security responsible for public safety (inc Municipal Police), travel, emigration, passports, port security, and criminal investigation.
- Special Police responsible for prison administration, the Central Security Forces, civil defense, police transport, police communications, traffic police, and Tourism and Antiquities Police.
- Personnel Affairs was responsible for police-training institutions, personnel matters for police and civilian employees, and the Policemen's Sports Association.
- Administrative and Financial Affairs responsible for general administration, budgets, supplies, and legal matters.
Regional organization
In each the Governorates of Egypt (sing. muhafazah; pl., muhafazat), the presidentially appointed governor and a director of police command all police and maintain public order. Both the governor and the director of police report to the Ministry of Interior on all security matters. The governor reports directly to the minister or to a deputy while the director of police reports through regular police channels. In the governorate's subdivisions there are district police commandants with the authority and functions that were similar to the director at the governorate level.
The urban police have more modern facilities and equipment, such as computers and communications equipment, while the smaller more remote village police have less sophisticated facilities and equipment. The police became increasingly motorised and it is now rare to see an officer on foot patrol except in city or town centres, and then rarely alone. An increasing number of urban centres police bicycle units are used to provide a quick response in congested areas, pedestrianised areas and parkland, as well as carrying out patrols. @$&
Training
Almost all commissioned officers were graduates of the Police Academy at Cairo where police had to complete a three-month course at the academy. The Police Academy is a modern institution equipped with laboratory and physical-training facilities. The police force also sent some officers abroad for schooling.
The Police Academy offers a two-year program which includes: security administration, criminal investigation, military drills, civil defense, fire fighting, forensic medicine, communications, cryptology, first aid, sociology, anatomy, and foreign languages (French and English). Also included are: political orientation, public relations, and military subjects (such as infantry and cavalry training), marksmanship, leadership, and field exercises. Graduates receive a bachelor of police studies degree and are commissioned first lieutenants.
Advanced officer training was given at the Academy's Institute for Advanced Police Studies, completion of which was required for advancement beyond the rank of lieutenant colonel. The academy's three-month course for enlisted personnel is conducted in a military atmosphere but emphasizes police methods and techniques.
Uniforms and equipment
Ranks
Egyptian police rank insignia are the same as those used by the Egyptian Army. Commissioned police ranks resemble those of the Egyptian Army. The highest-ranking Egyptian police officer is a major general and officer ranks descend only to first lieutenant. Enlisted police ranks include master sergeant, sergeant, corporal, and private.
Police uniforms
Egyptian police uniforms are similar to the Egyptian Army's service uniform for the ground forces, which is khaki drill cotton. However, enlisted police personnel wear a black wool bush jacket and pants in the winter and a white cotton bush jacket and pants in the summer. Certain police personnel also wear a blue or black beret.
Equipment
Egyptian law enforcement police officers generally carry M&P357, CZ 75B or Glock pistol when on regular duty, however, heavy arms are always available at police stations. These include submachine guns, assault rifles, shotguns and carbines, while special units may also have additional weapons like Flash bang and stinger tear gas grenades, H&K USP series and SIG Sauer series pistols, Heckler & Koch MP5, Heckler & Koch UMP and FN P90 submachine guns, M14 rifle, the Remington 700P and some .50 caliber sniper rifles.
Tourism and Antiquities Police covering every single spot tourists could go to like sites, museums, hotels, etc. such as the Great Pyramid of Giza, Memphis Giza, Egyptian Museum, etc. in Cairo, Alexandria - Qaitbay Citadel and the Serapium Temple and Pompeys Pillar, etc., going through all cities in Egypt carrying same weapons as law enforcement police.
Transport
Unlike in many other countries, the Egyptian police extensively use SUVs. The Egyptian produced Jeep vehicle used to be the most common police car in Egypt but in recent years, other similar vehicles have also come into police use. SUVs are known for their capabilities to move around in any sort of terrain. Depending upon the location, the police vehicles may have individual revolving lights (strobe lights) or light bars, sirens etc. An extensive modernisation drive has ensured that these vehicles are equipped with wireless sets in communication with a central control room. Traffic Police vehicles generally also have equipment like speed radars, breath analysers and emergency first aid kits. Color schemes of police vehicles vary according to their location and which directorate they belong to.
For traffic regulation and patrolling in cities, motorcycles are also used. This is because of increasing congestion in cities where the heavier bikes would prove to be unwieldy when compared to the nimbler handling the newer bikes were capable of. The bikes are provided with two-way radios, strobes and sirens and are generally painted white. Some cities make use of sedans as patrol vehicles or high speed 'interceptors' on highways. Of late, the various police forces are on a modernisation drive, upgrading and revamping their fleet with new vehicles.
Relations with public
The police in Egypt have lost some prestige since the 2011 Revolution. According to one source (csmonitor.org), the Egyptian police, "once feared by civilians, are now seen as leftover elements of Mubarak’s regime and treated with little respect. Pulled off the streets after violently cracking down on protests in January, they are now trying to reshape their role in the post-Mubarak Egypt."[2] Police brutality is credited with being one of the causes of the revolution,[3] and as of June 2011 several police officers are being tried for the killing of "hundreds of demonstrators" during the revolution. According to government statistics, 90 police stations have been burnt since the start of the revolution.[2] The government has taken steps to address public concerns and police demoralization.[2] In response to a planned July 8 rally protesting the release on bail of police accused of murdering protesters during the revolution, interim interior minister Mansour al-Essawy promised to purge up to 700 corrupt senior police officers. However protesters complained that five months after the revolution where almost 1000 people were killed, only one officer has been convicted of wrongdoing and he has not yet been incarcerated.[4]
Treatment of women
According to writer Ahdaf Soueif, since 2005 the police have routinely grabbed women protesters and torn "their clothes off and beat them, groping them at the same time. The idea was to insinuate that females who took part in street protests wanted to be groped." To protect against this, many female protesters wear "layers of light clothing, no buttons, drawstring pants double-knotted".[5]
Gallery
-
Cairo police in 1911 -
Police on a camel in front of the Red Pyramid in Dahshur.jpg -
_-_TIMEA.jpg?lang=en)
See also
- Central Security Forces
- Crime in Egypt
- Death of Khaled Mohamed Saeed
- Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate
- National Police Day (Egypt)
- Terrorism in Egypt
- The General Directorate for State Security Investigations
References
- ^ The Rough Guide to Egypt. New York: Rough Guides. August, 2007. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-84353-782-3.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c Cairo clashes highlight tensions between Egyptian police, public| by Sarah Lynch| June 29, 2011
- ^ AFP (25 January 2011). "Egypt braces for nationwide protests". France24. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
- ^ Muslim Brotherhood to join Tahrir Square demonstration, Jack Shenker| guardian.co.uk| 7 July 2011
- ^ Image of unknown woman beaten by Egypt's military echoes around world, Guardian, retrieved 19/12/2011
Sources
- World Police Encyclopedia, ed. by Dilip K. Das and Michael Palmiotto published by Taylor & Francis, 2004.
- World Encyclopedia of Police Forces and Correctional Systems, second edition, 2006 by Gale.
- Sullivan, Larry E. Encyclopedia of Law Enforcement. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 2005.
- LOC Egypt County Study page
External links
Official sites in English:
