The long-awaited good news on authority and salaries for neighborhood watchmen has arrived! After a 48-day recess, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey has reconvened. One of the first items addressed in the General Assembly was the proposed law regulating the powers and pay of çarşı (market) and mahalle (neighborhood) watchmen, a matter they have awaited for a long time. Today the Assembly met under the presidency of Vice Speaker Süreyya Sadi Bilgiç.
Law Proposal for Neighborhood Watchmen Discussed at the Parliament
On the first day back in session, the Grand National Assembly prioritized a bill concerning neighborhood watchmen. During the General Assembly meeting, lawmakers reviewed the proposal that aims to resolve longstanding questions about the duties, powers, and compensation of the watchmen who serve across communities. The draft law revisits and clarifies the roles of the tens of thousands of watchmen currently on duty.
The proposal proposes a series of revisions to the duties and authorities of neighborhood watchmen. Under the draft provisions, watchmen would be empowered to stop individuals and vehicles and to request identification when necessary. They would also have authority to remove vehicles or other obstacles that cause traffic disruptions in streets, passages, and public squares. In addition, market and neighborhood watchmen would be authorized to use force and carry weapons under defined conditions. Watchmen currently employed by the gendarmerie would be incorporated into the gendarmerie class. The bill also sets a weekly working time of 40 hours for watchmen and includes increases in their salaries.
By formalizing these regulations, the proposed law seeks to standardize the scope of watchmen’s responsibilities across municipalities and law enforcement structures while ensuring clearer legal backing for their everyday tasks. The measures on identification checks, vehicle stops, and removal of obstructions are framed to help maintain public order in local neighborhoods and commercial areas. Likewise, clarifying the conditions under which force and firearms may be used aims to align watchmen practices with legal safeguards and procedural rules.
The incorporation of watchmen serving within the gendarmerie into the gendarmerie class is intended to streamline organizational status and career progression, offering a clearer employment framework. Establishing a 40-hour workweek and adjusting pay reflects an effort to standardize labor conditions and improve compensation in recognition of the responsibilities these roles carry.
The bill is now under parliamentary review and will proceed through the legislative process, where details will be debated and refined. If approved, the changes will affect the daily duties, legal authorities, working hours, and remuneration of market and neighborhood watchmen nationwide, providing a comprehensive update to a long-standing area of public safety policy.