Court: Police 'Neighborhood Guards' Not Authorized to Ask for ID, Conduct Body Search

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The İzmir 35th Penal Court of First Instance has stated that the Security Directorate's "Downtown and Neighborhood Guards,' unlike police officers, do not have the authority to ask for identity or conduct a body search, citing the Law on Duties and Powers of the Police.

Releasing a statement after the ruling, the General Directorate of Security said that the verdict was "exclusive to that case" and the guards are authorized to perform such tasks as other police officers.

An argument between the guards and two young people in a park in İzmir was brought to court, 16 punto reported. The argument had erupted when the guards asked for identity from the two to conduct a criminal record check.

The court concluded that the guards "provoked the citizens" by asking for identity despite not being authorized to do so.

It also decided to not take action regarding the charge of "insult" against the two people as the guards "exceeded limits of their duty and forced the citizens" and "have no right to ask for identity."

The General Directorate of Security cited Article 16 of the regulation on the duty ıf the guards, which said, "Guards follow suspicious persons walking through their districts and investigate their identity." (EKN/VK)