AN OVERVIEW OF PRIVATE SECURITY PRACTICE IN TURKEY;1-Private Security in Turkey has a complementary function to Public Security. 2-Private Security personnel work in areas other than public areas such as streets and avenues at designated locations. In matters such as close protection, transportation of valuable documents and money, their area of duty may vary. 3- With in the area of duty, they have authority and responsibility of the Police and Gendarmerie which are the general law enforcement agencies, 4- Private security service in Turkey is implemented in 3 ways. -Institutions-organizations can establish private security organizations within their own bodies. – Institutions-organizations can purchase services from companies that received operating license from the Ministry of Interior. – Institutions-organizations can implement protection services in a mixed way. 5- The legal practice prior to 2004 only allowed for private security within the unit. It also required the mandatory protection by these units of sensitive places that needed to be protected in terms of state security. 6- The new law, which entered into force on June 26, 2004, introduced reforming changes and has brought innovations. 7- Entering and exiting the scope of private security is based on the free will of institutions and organizations. 8- Private security companies, which existed in the past and carried out their activities under private law, but whose duties, powers and responsibilities were not clear, were included within the scope of the law. 9- Training activities, which were previously under the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior, were transferred to private security training institutions. 10- The age of 18 and 90 hours of basic training for unarmed private security guards and the age of 21 and 120 hours of basic training for armed private security guards and the requirement to be successful in the exam have been introduced. In addition, a refresher training is required every 5 years. 11- In order for successful candidates to take office, they must also have health and other conditions, security investigations are carried out, and those who have not been convicted of the crimes specified in the law are given a work permit and identity card and are allowed to become private security personnel. 12- Private security activities are carried out under the Police and Gendarmerie organizations, which are general law enforcement agencies under the Ministry of Interior. 13- In the central unit of the Police Organization, the service is carried out at the Branch Directorate level. 14- Especially public institutions and organizations continue to employ private security personnel. Such that, within the scope of the main investigation works of the Police and Gendarmerie and the economy of service, Police and Gendarmerie Station and Building protection services and point duties will increasingly have to be provided by Private Security. 15- Private security guards have greatly reduced the workload of the general police (Police and Gendarmerie) in areas such as terrorism, sabotage, corporate security, theft, etc. 16- Foreign private security companies operating or establishing partnerships in Turkey are subject to the principle of reciprocity. 17- Within the framework of the principles of reciprocity, there is no obstacle in terms of national and international legislation for the protection services of sensitive points, especially Embassies and Consulates, to be carried out by private security. It is only a matter of time before we encounter practices in this direction. 18- It is also worth emphasizing the following. Turkey is a fully secured country in terms of private security practices, and foreign investments receive great support. 19- Turkey is open to joint ventures, training and investments in private security practices and technological security with all countries that have made progress in this field, especially with the European Union countries. 20-) As a person who participates in the establishment and deployment of the private security system and who was selected as the Bureaucrat of the year, I would like to announce that we are ready for any kind of cooperation in establishment, investment and organizations in this manner.
