New penalties published in the Official Gazette: Powers for night watchmen, unauthorized use of sirens, and unlicensed firearms...

According to the law accepted by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on November 21, the examinations and evaluations to be carried out for the determination of first-class administrative officers will be conducted by the Ministry of Interior at most twice a year.

Retirement benefits, disability benefits, and death benefits will be provided to members of the Police Care and Assistance Fund who are members of the Security Organization, or to their heirs in the event of their death; while participation shares, profit shares, and death benefits will be provided to retired members.

PENALTIES FOR FIREARMS

The firearms license of those whose weapon is stolen for the third time or who lose their weapon for the third time will be revoked, and these individuals will not be granted a permit to possess or carry a weapon for 5 years from the date of the incident.

No time limit will be sought for firearms licenses transferred to veterans and their mothers, fathers, spouses, and children, or for those they will acquire if there are no heirs.

Those who bring into the country or sell parts of firearms such as barrels, slides, frames, cylinders, breech faces, extractors, firing pins, or strikers will be sentenced to 5 to 12 years in prison.

The prison sentence for those who carry, purchase, or possess unlicensed firearms will have its lower limit increased from 1 year to 2 years, and its upper limit from 3 years to 4 years.

UNAUTHORIZED USE OF SIRENS

Those who use unauthorized sirens and roof lights will be fined 96 thousand liras, their driver's licenses will be revoked for 30 days, and their vehicles will be banned from traffic for the same period.

Data from the vehicle registration and title system kept by the Union of Notaries of Turkey will also be shared instantly with the Gendarmerie General Command.

Associations that have been operating for at least one year will be able to open social clubs; this condition will not be required for federations and confederations.

NEW POWERS FOR NIGHT WATCHMEN

In the presence of sufficient suspicion that a person stopped by a neighborhood and bazaar watchman is carrying a weapon on their person or in their vehicle, the watchman will be able to check the person by patting them down externally to prevent harm, and check the parts of vehicles that are visible from the outside.

The Minister of Interior may award the "Police Medal of Superior Courage and Sacrifice," "Police Medal of Honor," or "Police Medal of Superior Service" to personnel of the General Directorate of Security who perform their duties with outstanding success.

News Source: AA