Municipal police (Turkey)

The origin of the law enforcement organization in Turkey is based on the ihtisab system that has an important place in the Turkish tradition and Islamic culture, based on which the first office for public regularity was created.

[1] During the time of the Ottoman Empire, services related to the cities were carried out by different institutions and individuals such as the Grand Vizier, Agha of the Janissaries, secretariats, kadis, soubashis, Kapudan Pasha, the Djebedji, and seraskers.

Among these institutions, the closest duties to today's municipal police were carried out by the kadis or judges.

The judges, together with their officers (ihtisap ağaları), carried out inspections and checked for the security, cleanliness, the prices and quality of the goods in the bazaar and the market.

[1] As a result of the abolition of the Janissaries in 1826, the initial ihtisab system was removed and replaced by the Office for Public Regularity, established by Sultan Mahmud II.