The Directorate General for Police (DGP) () is the police and fire-rescue organization of

Northern Cyprus Northern Cyprus, officially the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), is a ''de facto'' state that comprises the northeastern portion of the Geography of Cyprus, island of Cyprus. It is List of states with limited recognition, recognis ...

. This agency is part of the

Security Forces Command The Security Forces Command () is the military and security force of the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It is a 15,000 strong force primarily made up of conscripted Turkish Cypriot males between the ages of 18 and 40. It is ...

, making it technically a

gendarmerie A gendarmerie () is a paramilitary or military force with law enforcement duties among the civilian population. The term ''gendarme'' () is derived from the medieval French expression ', which translates to " men-at-arms" (). In France and so ...

History

The roots of DGP goes back to Ottoman Police (1571). Two years after the transfer of administration of

Cyprus Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the List of isl ...

to the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

in 1878, the Cyprus Military Police was founded. In 1936, the word "Military" was removed from the name and it became "Cyprus Police", which lasted until 1960. Following the independence of the

Republic of Cyprus Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the third lar ...

from the

in 1960, organisation of policing was separated between the

Cyprus Police The Cyprus Police (, ''i''), is the national police service of the Republic of Cyprus, falling under the Ministry of Justice and Public Order since 1993. The duties and responsibilities of the Cyprus police are set out in the amended Police La ...

and the

Gendarme A gendarmerie () is a paramilitary or military force with law enforcement duties among the civilian population. The term ''gendarme'' () is derived from the medieval French expression ', which translates to "men-at-arms" (). In France and som ...

. In 1960, the

numbered 1019, with 604

Greek Cypriot Greek Cypriots (, ) are the ethnic Greek population of Cyprus, forming the island's largest ethnolinguistic community. According to the 2023 census, 719,252 respondents recorded their ethnicity as Greek, forming almost 99% of the 737,196 Cypri ...

and 415

Turkish Cypriot Turkish Cypriots or Cypriot Turks ( or ; ) are so called ethnic Turks originating from Cyprus. Turkish Cypriots are mainly Sunni Muslims. Following the Ottoman conquest of the island in 1571, about 30,000 Turkish settlers were given land onc ...

officers. The Cyprus Police Firearms Unit had 125

Greek Cypriots Greek Cypriots (, ) are the ethnic Greeks, Greek population of Cyprus, forming the island's largest Ethnolinguistic group, ethnolinguistic community. According to the 2023 census, 719,252 respondents recorded their ethnicity as Greek, forming al ...

and 56

Turkish Cypriots Turkish Cypriots or Cypriot Turks ( or ; ) are so called ethnic Turks originating from Cyprus. Turkish Cypriots are mainly Sunni Muslims. Following the Ottoman conquest of the island in 1571, about 30,000 Turkish settlers were given land onc ...

out of a total 181 officers. Between 1 April 1955 and 1974, the

EOKA The Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston (EOKA ; ) was a Greek Cypriot nationalist guerrilla organization that fought a campaign for the end of Cyprus#Cyprus under the British Empire, British rule in Cyprus, and for enosis, eventual union with K ...

killed over 40 Turkish Cypriot policemen. After the collapse of the partnership government in 1963, the Turkish Cypriot police and gendarmes formed the police organization "Directorate General for Police" (DGP). Following the

Turkish Invasion of Cyprus The Turkish invasion of Cyprus began on 20 July 1974 and progressed in two phases over the following month. Taking place upon a background of Cypriot intercommunal violence, intercommunal violence between Greek Cypriots, Greek and Turkish Cy ...

in 1974, this then became Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Directorate General for Police (TRNC DGP). TRNC Special Operation Department is

police tactical unit A police tactical unit (PTU) is a specialized police unit trained and equipped to handle situations that are beyond the capabilities of ordinary law enforcement units because of the level of violence (or risk of violence) involved. The tasks of a ...

of the TRNC DGP.

Police School

Police School of Northern Cyprus is a member of International Association of Police Academies (INTERPA).INTERPA
Members

Branches

* Administrative Police Department * Directorate of Judicial Police * Traffic Directorate * Police School Directorate * Immigration Directorate * Administrative Affairs and Personnel Affairs Directorate * Communication and Information Technologies Directorate * Political Police Department * Narcotics and Smuggling Prevention Directorate * R&D Directorate * Supervisory Board * Financial Police * Executive assistant * Police band * TRNC Special Operation Department

Directorates

* Provincial Directorates *

Lefkosa Nicosia, also known as Lefkosia and Lefkoşa, is the capital and largest city of Cyprus. It is the southeasternmost of all EU member states' capital cities. Nicosia has been continuously inhabited for over 5,500 years and has been the capita ...

Police Department *

Girne Kyrenia is a city on the northern coast of Geography of Cyprus, Cyprus, noted for its historic harbour and castle. It is under the ''de facto'' control of Northern Cyprus. While there is evidence showing that the wider region of Kyrenia has be ...

Police Department *

Güzelyurt Güzelyurt, meaning 'beautiful homeland', formerly Gelveri (Cappadocian Greek: Καρβάλη), is a town in Aksaray Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, at a distance of from the city of Aksaray. It is the seat of Güzelyurt Dist ...

Police Department * İskele Police Department *

Famagusta Famagusta, also known by several other names, is a city located on the eastern coast of Cyprus. It is located east of the capital, Nicosia, and possesses the deepest harbour of the island. During the Middle Ages (especially under the maritime ...

Police Department

Ranks

The General Directorate of Police uses the rank system consisting of nine classes. Civilian service officers working within the General Directorate of Police use the rank system consisting of four degrees.

References

External links

TRNC Directorate General for Police

{{Police Law enforcement in Cyprus

Police The police are Law enforcement organization, a constituted body of Law enforcement officer, people empowered by a State (polity), state with the aim of Law enforcement, enforcing the law and protecting the Public order policing, public order ...