Statement regarding police bus with covered license plate: 'Due to necessity'

The Istanbul Police Department has issued a statement regarding footage circulating on some social media accounts showing the word "police" being used inappropriately on certain buses in Istanbul. 

The statement read, "In order to ensure that our security services are carried out effectively and without interruption, temporary rental vehicles are sometimes procured due to security needs regarding certain social issues. 

The buses seen in the footage, which have the word 'police' added to their license plates, are also rental vehicles temporarily assigned within this scope.

It has been understood that the license plates were covered and the word 'police' was written in their place by the assigned personnel to prevent the issuance of traffic fines via the EDS (Electronic Traffic Enforcement System) for these rental vehicles. 

This practice is strictly inconsistent with the corporate identity of our organization and is not a practice carried out by us. 

An investigation has been launched regarding the footage in question," the statement concluded.