Breaking News: Market and Neighborhood Watchmen Law Adopted! According to the latest announcement, the Ministry of Interior has confirmed that the bill for the Market and Neighborhood Watchmen Law was adopted by the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on 11.06.2020 and has been enacted. The Ministry issued a statement outlining the scope and key provisions, summarized below.
What Are the Duties and Authorities of Market and Neighborhood Watchmen?
What are the duties and authorities of Market and Neighborhood Watchmen? Following the Ministry of Interior’s announcement, the duties and authorities of Market and Neighborhood Watchmen are defined as follows. The Market and Neighborhood Watchmen Law bill was accepted by the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 11.06.2020 and has become law.
Under this law, new regulations clarify the responsibilities, authorities, and obligations of Market and Neighborhood Watchmen serving in the field. As part of this framework, the personnel will receive targeted training in the following areas:
- Human rights,
- Principles of conduct and effective communication,
- Stopping, identity checks, inspections, apprehension and custody procedures,
- Authority to use force,
- Authority to carry and use firearms,
- Authority to seize items related to criminal acts,
- Disciplinary regulations,
The topics listed above will be delivered by specialized supervisors in each branch and province. Current watchmen on duty will receive three full days of instruction between 15 and 17 June 2020. In addition, 8,242 new Market and Neighborhood Watchmen appointed to the organization will begin training at the Police Academy Presidency starting 1 July 2020. Those recruits will undergo a three-month training program, followed by an additional two months of practical, on-the-job training in the provinces to which they are assigned.