The Organizational The Organizational Structures of Security Structures of Security

Agencies In Arab Agencies In Arab StatesStates

Dr. Mamdooh Abdelhameed (Ph.D., Dr. Mamdooh Abdelhameed (Ph.D., J.D)J.D)

Professor of Police Science & Law Professor of Police Science & Law

General Remarks And General Remarks And NoticesNotices

First: First: The upper political leadership of the security organsThe upper political leadership of the security organs..

Second :Second : Upper executive leadership of security Upper executive leadership of security organs in Arab statesorgans in Arab states..

Third: The philosophy of security work

Fourth: Summarizing common aspects of organizational structures of Arab security organs.

First: First: The upper political The upper political leadershipleadership of the security of the security

organsorgans11 - - All Arab states have a central All Arab states have a central

ministry that is responsible for ministry that is responsible for internal security in its internal security in its comprehensive sense. This comprehensive sense. This ministry is called ministry is called the Ministry the Ministry of the Interiorof the Interior and the person and the person in charge of it is called the in charge of it is called the

Minister of the InteriorMinister of the Interior..

22 - - In all Arab states, the Minister of the In all Arab states, the Minister of the Interior is assisted by Interior is assisted by Deputy Deputy

MinistersMinisters, Assistant Ministers, Under-, Assistant Ministers, Under-Secretaries of the MinistrySecretaries of the Ministry

.13 - The modern criminal justice system is composed of a police force (with its

administrative and criminal parts), general prosecution, the judiciary, penal and

reformatory institutions and the juvenile criminal justice system.

44 - - The duties of the modern criminal The duties of the modern criminal justice system are divided among justice system are divided among three ministries: The Ministry of three ministries: The Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice and Interior, the Ministry of Justice and

the Ministry of Social Affairsthe Ministry of Social Affairs . .

* *In Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the Emirates, Yemen In Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the Emirates, Yemen and Sudan, the Ministry of Interior shoulders the and Sudan, the Ministry of Interior shoulders the responsibility for combating crime, detection, responsibility for combating crime, detection, arresting those who commit crimes, investigations, arresting those who commit crimes, investigations, presenting cases before criminal courts, presenting cases before criminal courts, representing the prosecution and then representing the prosecution and then supervising the implementation of penalties, penal supervising the implementation of penalties, penal and reformatory institutions and supervising and reformatory institutions and supervising juvenile justice In Saudi Arabia and Sudan, a system of juvenile justice In Saudi Arabia and Sudan, a system of prosecution is being instated under the prosecution is being instated under the supervision of independent bodies or the Ministry of supervision of independent bodies or the Ministry of

JusticeJustice..

5 - All Arab states follow at varying degrees, the principle of separation of powers. Here we notice the following:

*In Algeria, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt, it is noticed how procedures of crime fighting, such as crime control, detection and the gathering of evidence (undertaken by the organs of the Ministry of Interior) and judicial or semi-judicial procedures and supervision of penal institutions, which are left to the charge of the Ministry of Justice

or the Ministry of Social Affairs

Second:Second: Upper executive leadership Upper executive leadership of security organs in Arab statesof security organs in Arab states..

11 - - The general executive commander The general executive commander responsible for security organs before responsible for security organs before the Minister of Interior is known in the Minister of Interior is known in each Arab states aseach Arab states as : :

11 - -Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia : : Deputy of Minister of InteriorDeputy of Minister of Interior..

22 - - EgyptEgypt : :A number of assistants to ministerA number of assistants to minister..

33 - - United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates : : Under-secretary of MinistryUnder-secretary of Ministry..

: : Director of Public SecurityDirector of Public Security . . Qatar Qatar 44 - -

22 - - Arab security organs take up the Arab security organs take up the following administrative divisionfollowing administrative division: :

* *Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , EgyptKingdom of Saudi Arabia , Egypt :Sectors:Sectors , , General DepartmentGeneral Department , ,Department , Department , General DirectorateGeneral Directorate..

* * the rest of the countriesthe rest of the countries take one or take one or more from these administrative more from these administrative

security divisionsecurity division . .

Third Remark:Third Remark:Facts and notices related to type of security Facts and notices related to type of security

administrative systemadministrative system

11 - - All Arab states follow central security-agency All Arab states follow central security-agency system wherein the minister of the interior and the system wherein the minister of the interior and the supreme executive commander directly supervises supreme executive commander directly supervises security operations in all regions of the state and security operations in all regions of the state and on all administrative, financial and technical on all administrative, financial and technical

mattersmatters . .

The only exception is the United Arab Emirates which The only exception is the United Arab Emirates which follow a decentralized system by which each follow a decentralized system by which each emirate undertakes responsibility of its security emirate undertakes responsibility of its security organs in full whereas the federal security organs in full whereas the federal security command is considered a general coordinating command is considered a general coordinating

and supervising bodyand supervising body.. , ,

22 - - Members of security agencies in all Arab Members of security agencies in all Arab states have considerable military states have considerable military training, wear a uniform and carry fire training, wear a uniform and carry fire arms which the are allowed to use in arms which the are allowed to use in accordance with discretionary powers accordance with discretionary powers they are grantedthey are granted . .

They are subject to military discipline and They are subject to military discipline and follow a ranking system that is similar to follow a ranking system that is similar to military ranks in practice in Arab military ranks in practice in Arab countriescountries..

Third: The philosophy of Third: The philosophy of security worksecurity work::

11 - -The organizational structures and the naming of security The organizational structures and the naming of security organs in Arab states are affected by organs in Arab states are affected by lack of compatibilitylack of compatibility between between security philosophysecurity philosophy and the and the general directives for general directives for

security worksecurity work and and their organizational structurestheir organizational structures..

Some Arab states adopt a concept of comprehensive security. Some Arab states adopt a concept of comprehensive security. Others limit their focus to criminal or political security. Others limit their focus to criminal or political security. There is the comprehensive security man who possesses There is the comprehensive security man who possesses the powers of arresting, control and search – anywhere and the powers of arresting, control and search – anywhere and

in the different fields of law enforcementin the different fields of law enforcement . .

There are also security people who specialize in specific fields of There are also security people who specialize in specific fields of work or have specific domains of competence that they do work or have specific domains of competence that they do

not operate outside ofnot operate outside of..

22 - - One of the most controversial matters in the One of the most controversial matters in the issue of structures of Arab security organs is issue of structures of Arab security organs is the the presence of security sectors under different presence of security sectors under different namesnames, such as the public security sector, the , such as the public security sector, the police sector, the public investigation sector, police sector, the public investigation sector, the state security investigation unit or the the state security investigation unit or the

criminal investigation unitcriminal investigation unit..

In some countries public security means the special In some countries public security means the special organ for the state’s political security, the crime organ for the state’s political security, the crime

combat forces and the traffic departmentcombat forces and the traffic department . .

On the other hand, we find that public investigation On the other hand, we find that public investigation means the political security organ, or it means means the political security organ, or it means the crime control agency. All of this represents the crime control agency. All of this represents an obstacle in the way of efforts to unify an obstacle in the way of efforts to unify organizational structures and sows the seeds of organizational structures and sows the seeds of

misunderstanding in the general publicmisunderstanding in the general public . .

Fourth: Summarizing common aspects of Fourth: Summarizing common aspects of organizational structures of Arab organizational structures of Arab

security organssecurity organs..

11 - - The political history of each Arab state has had its The political history of each Arab state has had its impact on the official organization of the security impact on the official organization of the security body and that was further reflected on the body and that was further reflected on the organizational structure of security organs in generalorganizational structure of security organs in general..

22 - - Although each state started doing away with the Although each state started doing away with the systems and names left behind by the colonial systems and names left behind by the colonial powers, they kept some of the local and powers, they kept some of the local and environmental circumstances. However, the echo of environmental circumstances. However, the echo of the European system is still heard from far away, the European system is still heard from far away, especially in terms of names and organizations at a especially in terms of names and organizations at a

second degreesecond degree

33 - - Arab states almost follow a unified system in Arab states almost follow a unified system in selection of personnel for security organs in selection of personnel for security organs in

general, and the police in particulargeneral, and the police in particular..

44 - - The system of selection of personnel for security The system of selection of personnel for security sectors undoubtedly relates to the dominant sectors undoubtedly relates to the dominant social system in Arab countries in general and in social system in Arab countries in general and in

each state in particulareach state in particular..

55 - - It is noticed that the formation of personnel It is noticed that the formation of personnel manning Arab security organs is divided into two manning Arab security organs is divided into two categories: commissioned officers and other categories: commissioned officers and other ranks. Each category has its own system of ranks. Each category has its own system of selection and the conditions of such selection and selection and the conditions of such selection and

the social class that those chosen come fromthe social class that those chosen come from. .

A.) Officers are generally selected out of A.) Officers are generally selected out of university graduates or high-school graduates university graduates or high-school graduates as a minimum requirement. They then are as a minimum requirement. They then are qualified at security colleges and institutes for qualified at security colleges and institutes for a period of no less than two years at least. a period of no less than two years at least. There are systems of three-year and four-year There are systems of three-year and four-year

trainingtraining..

B.) Other ranks that set about their professional B.) Other ranks that set about their professional process from the rank of foot-soldier have process from the rank of foot-soldier have different conditions for their joining the forces. different conditions for their joining the forces. They are not required to meet all They are not required to meet all requirements asked of commissioned officers. requirements asked of commissioned officers. It suffices to have a primary schooling. Some It suffices to have a primary schooling. Some countries did not even ask for that but were countries did not even ask for that but were satisfied with knowledge of reading and satisfied with knowledge of reading and

writingwriting..

66 - - The Interior Ministries in all Arab states The Interior Ministries in all Arab states are sovereign ministries. This helps are sovereign ministries. This helps upgrade security work, boost its value and upgrade security work, boost its value and significance. This is because the ministries significance. This is because the ministries of interior are responsible for security in all of interior are responsible for security in all

Arab statesArab states..

77 - - Therefore, it is noticed that ministries and Therefore, it is noticed that ministries and organs of security in Arab states have a organs of security in Arab states have a sovereign status, which places security sovereign status, which places security work at the top priority of state work and work at the top priority of state work and positions those in charge of security positions those in charge of security among the leaders who draw up general among the leaders who draw up general policies of states, whereby security policies of states, whereby security aspects have presence and consideration aspects have presence and consideration

in public lifein public life..

88 - - all Arab countries take up a centralized system of all Arab countries take up a centralized system of security. Some countries tried to adopt a security. Some countries tried to adopt a decentralized system because of the vast area of the decentralized system because of the vast area of the country and the difficulty in controlling security from country and the difficulty in controlling security from

the capitalthe capital. .

99 - - If we look at region security organs in Arab If we look at region security organs in Arab countries, with the exclusion of the political security countries, with the exclusion of the political security agency, we find that most Arab countries adopt not agency, we find that most Arab countries adopt not only the system, but also the designations in unison. only the system, but also the designations in unison. We find departments of criminal investigation, We find departments of criminal investigation, passports, immigration and nationality, planning and passports, immigration and nationality, planning and training, civil defense, Police College and institutes, training, civil defense, Police College and institutes, special security forces, an administrative sector and special security forces, an administrative sector and officer affairs and the traffic sector that are adopted officer affairs and the traffic sector that are adopted

by almost all Arab countriesby almost all Arab countries....

1010 - - Although all police organs in Arab Although all police organs in Arab countries carry out the task of crime countries carry out the task of crime prevention and detection as a traditional prevention and detection as a traditional charge, along with gathering of evidence charge, along with gathering of evidence and preliminary investigation into crimes, and preliminary investigation into crimes, the difference comes later when some the difference comes later when some Arab criminal systems give the police all Arab criminal systems give the police all duties including conducting all procedures duties including conducting all procedures of criminal investigation and presenting of criminal investigation and presenting cases to court. But some countries assign cases to court. But some countries assign the police the task of gathering evidence the police the task of gathering evidence and assign the powers of investigation to and assign the powers of investigation to

the Prosecutors officethe Prosecutors office..

1111 - - It is noticed, from the general fabric It is noticed, from the general fabric of Arab security organs, that there is a of Arab security organs, that there is a similarity in terms of organizational similarity in terms of organizational structures but when you look into structures but when you look into details of these structures and details of these structures and designations, you find that there is designations, you find that there is disparity. This difference may stem disparity. This difference may stem from the particularity of each state and from the particularity of each state and the local circumstances surrounding it the local circumstances surrounding it

and this occurs to suit the situationand this occurs to suit the situation..

SoSo,, what is required is to look into what is required is to look into

the disparity of philosophies and the disparity of philosophies and work directives and goals, then work directives and goals, then to move to look into structures to move to look into structures and designations. We are and designations. We are convinced that security convinced that security structures, philosophies and structures, philosophies and directives stay the same and directives stay the same and

are harmoniousare harmonious . .