Internal Security

The functions of protecting public order and of providing public security are performed by the gendarmerie and secu- rity organizations connected to the Ministry of the Interior. In addition, all municipalities in cities and towns employ muni-cipal police, whose duties are to see that laws and ordinances are observed for prices, fair marketing, building construction and sanitation and to contribute to the local security services.

. The activities of the security organizations providing services directed towards the protection of the public order and providing public security have been gradually made more effective. For this purpose, governments expend great efforts to eliminate all the deficiencies and provide the technical equipment needed.

The Police Organization
The first organization which formed the basis of the Turkish police was established in 1845, and its functions were determined by the Police Regulations. At that date the Police and Gendarmerie were separated from each other. The internal security organizations and the police organization have been continuously expanded and developed ever since with regulations prepared at various dates. Today, the police organization carries out its activities connected to the General Directorate of Security and includes central, regional and organizations abroad in its structure. Regional organizations have also been formed for some service units. The area of responsibility of the Turkish police is within the borders of the municipalities. Outside of these areas, these functions are carried out by the gendarmerie organization. Some of the judicial functions of the police are:

- To go into action in accordance with the orders and directives of the judicial authority,

- To collect evidence,

- To determine and capture perpetrators of offenses or crimes,

- To make investigations and interrogations on behalf of, and with the permission, of the Republic Chief Prosecutors and

- To deliver the suspect together with the evidence to the judicial authorities.

Philanthropic Turkish Police.

The police organization also undertakes political functions such as the protection of the integrity of the State and the Constitutional order. Additionally, the police also have admi- nistrative functions including prevention, protection and assistance functions. The Turkish Police Organization has adopted the principles of respecting human rights in the fulfillment of all of these functions, in conformity with the principles of a contemporary legal state. Within this framework, great importance has been placed on education, the qualifications of the police were improved by raising the level of education and a large number of personnel have been sent abroad for education. Activities in the same direction continue at an increasing pace.

The police organization, taking into consideration that traffic services directly affect economic and social life, has entered into an intense operations to maintain the flow of traffic and to prevent traffic accidents on city and intercity roads. As a matter of fact, the lack of coordination among various related organizations has been removed and traffic safety, that is considered to be a national problem, has been treated as a whole with regulations prepared in 1997. The Traffic Services Department, the Highways Traffic Security Board and the Supreme Board of Highway Security have been established with the objective of handling the problems seriously.