Law enforcement in Turkey

Law enforcement in Turkey is carried out by several departments and agencies, all acting under the Ministry of Internal Affairs except military police which is under the command of the Turkish Armed Forces and the National Intelligence Organization which directly reports to the president.

Civil administrators (Turkish: mülki amir) are responsible for the security and well-being of towns and districts.

Patrol cars can be identified using the unique blue-white design and the writing "Polis", usually in capital letters, on the side doors and hood.

It is a service branch of the Turkish Ministry of Interior responsible for the maintenance of the public order in areas that fall outside the jurisdiction of police forces (generally in rural areas), as well as assuring internal security along with carrying out other specific duties assigned to it by certain laws and regulations.

In wartime, some of its elements can be subordinated to Turkish Land Forces by the President The Commander of the Gendarmerie reports to the Minister of the Interior.

Most tourist sites are also areas of Jandarma's jurisdiction because their average population throughout the year are not high enough to fall under the police departments.

The director of the National Intelligence Organization (Turkish: MİT Başkanı) reports directly to the president.

Members of the National Intelligence Organization can't be, arrested by law enforcement agencies, interrogated by prosecutor or stand trial by courts without a permission from the president with matters regarding their duty.

In light of growing crime and racial tensions in many Turkish-populated areas of Germany, the German government implemented a plan in 2010 for the Turkish law enforcement to patrol areas affected and to participate in maintaining law and order.

The plan was met with criticism, but was implemented in the belief that local law enforcement has difficulty dealing with members of the Turkish community.