Law enforcement in Jordan
Encyclopedia
Law enforcement in Jordan is the purview of the "Public Security Force" (includes approximately 25,000 persons), the Jordanian national police
, which is subordinate to the Public Security Directorate of the Ministry of Interior.
was organized on 11th of April 1921. Ali Khulqi Pasha Alsharairi
was appointed as the first commander of the security force and as a National Security Counsellor (minister) in the first Transjordan
government. The first security force was composed of the Gendarmerie Battalion, and the Gendarmerie regiment, the reservist regiment, the regulars, and the desert patrol force.
Until 1956 the police duties were carried totally by the Arab Legion
and the Transjordan Frontier Force
, after that year the Public Safety Department was established.
, national police headquarters has responsibility for police, security, and law enforcement activities for the entire country. The police are headed by a Director General of Public Security, Traditionally a senior Jordanian Army general, who then reports to the Minister of Interior. Below the central headquarters there are ten regional directorates. Eight of which correspond to the governorate
s called muhafathat, and one covered Amman and its suburbs. The desert region was a separate directorate and was patrolled by the Desert Police Force.
The operations of the Public Security Force are divided into three major functions:
Additionally, there are three major structural divisions for the police force:
The Special Police Force (SPF) is a separate and elite branch of the Public Security Directorate that focuses primarily on combating terrorism.
Additionally, the General Intelligence Department (GID), generally known as the Mukhabarat
from the Arabic name Dairat al Mukhabarat, which reports directly to the king and is responsible for domestic and international security, espionage, and counterterrorist operations.
country to recruit women to its police, and opened a women's police academy in Amman in 1972. Before being assigned to positions in law enforcement, the women recruits completed a four-month classroom course followed by one month of practical training in the field. Assignment opportunities expanded steadily after the program began. Women served primarily in the police laboratory, in budgeting and accounting, public relations, licensing, and in prison operations. Some also served in street patrols and traffic control in Amman and in border security.
of the Police are identical with those of the army, although titles are different.
Police uniforms in the Amman metropolitan area were dark blue
in winter and light tan
in summer, resembling in style those of the Royal Jordanian Air Force
.
Rural police wore an olive drab uniform lighter in shade than that of the army but otherwise similar.
The Desert Police Force retained their traditional Arab garb.
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
, which is subordinate to the Public Security Directorate of the Ministry of Interior.
History
The first police force in the Jordanian state, after the fall of the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
was organized on 11th of April 1921. Ali Khulqi Pasha Alsharairi
Ali Khulqi Alsharairi
Ali Khulqi Alsharairi is Ali bin Hussein Alsharairi was one of the first Jordanian politicians....
was appointed as the first commander of the security force and as a National Security Counsellor (minister) in the first Transjordan
Transjordan
The Emirate of Transjordan was a former Ottoman territory in the Southern Levant that was part of the British Mandate of Palestine...
government. The first security force was composed of the Gendarmerie Battalion, and the Gendarmerie regiment, the reservist regiment, the regulars, and the desert patrol force.
Until 1956 the police duties were carried totally by the Arab Legion
Arab Legion
The Arab Legion was the regular army of Transjordan and then Jordan in the early part of the 20th century.-Creation:...
and the Transjordan Frontier Force
Transjordan Frontier Force
The Transjordan Frontier Force was formed, on 1 April 1926, as a para-military border guard to defend Trans-Jordan's northern and southern borders. The TJFF was also an Imperial Service regiment whose Imperial Service soldiers agreed to serve wherever required and not just within the borders of...
, after that year the Public Safety Department was established.
Organization
Headquartered in AmmanAmman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
, national police headquarters has responsibility for police, security, and law enforcement activities for the entire country. The police are headed by a Director General of Public Security, Traditionally a senior Jordanian Army general, who then reports to the Minister of Interior. Below the central headquarters there are ten regional directorates. Eight of which correspond to the governorate
Governorate
A governorate is an administrative division of a country. It is headed by a governor. As English-speaking nations tend to call regions administered by governors either states, provinces, or colonies, the term governorate is often used in translation from non-English-speaking administrations.The...
s called muhafathat, and one covered Amman and its suburbs. The desert region was a separate directorate and was patrolled by the Desert Police Force.
The operations of the Public Security Force are divided into three major functions:
- Administrative Police: routine crime prevention and the maintenance of public security; additionally special elements of the police perform traffic control, vehicles licensing, licensing of certain business activities, enforcing of trade regulations, enforcing building codes and zoning ordinances, locating missing persons, guarding public places, plus assisting customs and immigration officials. The police also operate Jordan's prison system.
- Judicial Police: conduct of criminal investigations and assistance to the public prosecutor’s office);
- Support Operations: provide training, logistics, public affairs, communication, etc.
Additionally, there are three major structural divisions for the police force:
- metropolitan,
- rural (small towns), and
- Desert Police Force—also responsible for detecting and preventing drug and gun smuggling, had also been greatly expanded. The Desert Police utilise camel-mounted as well as four-wheel-drive vehicle patrol.
The Special Police Force (SPF) is a separate and elite branch of the Public Security Directorate that focuses primarily on combating terrorism.
Additionally, the General Intelligence Department (GID), generally known as the Mukhabarat
Mukhabarat
Mukhābarāt is the Arabic term for intelligence, as in intelligence agency. In the West, the term is sometimes used negatively, connotating repression, often by means of secret police or state terror, in Arab countries...
from the Arabic name Dairat al Mukhabarat, which reports directly to the king and is responsible for domestic and international security, espionage, and counterterrorist operations.
Women
Jordan was the first ArabArab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
country to recruit women to its police, and opened a women's police academy in Amman in 1972. Before being assigned to positions in law enforcement, the women recruits completed a four-month classroom course followed by one month of practical training in the field. Assignment opportunities expanded steadily after the program began. Women served primarily in the police laboratory, in budgeting and accounting, public relations, licensing, and in prison operations. Some also served in street patrols and traffic control in Amman and in border security.
Uniforms
Ranks and insigniaJordanian military ranks
The Jordanian Armed Forces adopted its system of military ranks from the British armed forces...
of the Police are identical with those of the army, although titles are different.
Police uniforms in the Amman metropolitan area were dark blue
Dark blue
Dark blue can refer to:* Dark blue , a variant of the color blue* Dark Blue , a 2002 film directed by Ron Shelton and starring Kurt Russell* "Dark Blue" , a song by the American piano rock band Jack's Mannequin...
in winter and light tan
Tan (color)
Tan is a pale whiteish, tawny shade of white. The name is derived from tannum used in the tanning of leather.The first recorded use of tan as a shade name in English was in the year 1590....
in summer, resembling in style those of the Royal Jordanian Air Force
Royal Jordanian Air Force
The Royal Jordanian Air Force is the air force branch of the Jordanian Armed Forces.-Early days:...
.
Rural police wore an olive drab uniform lighter in shade than that of the army but otherwise similar.
The Desert Police Force retained their traditional Arab garb.