10 Instructions from the Minister of Internal Affairs Çiftçi to the Newly Appointed Police Chiefs

Minister of Internal Affairs Mustafa Çiftçi attended the "Newly Appointed Police Chiefs Meeting" at the General Directorate of Security (EGM) Martyr Demet Sezen Conference Hall.

Minister Çiftçi, who started his speech here by expressing his condolences to those injured in the armed attack near a school in Manisa's Turgutlu district, emphasized that the necessary judicial and administrative processes were carried out meticulously to shed light on all aspects of the incident.

10 INSTRUCTIONS FROM MINISTER FARMER

In his address to the police chiefs, Çiftçi said that, firstly, the peace and risk map of the city should be prepared in the province where he started his duty and the risk areas should be closely monitored, and secondly, one should be uncompromising against structures targeting children and young people.

Farmer continued as follows:

"Thirdly, you will manage the street and the digital world together. Crime is no longer committed only on the streets. You will closely monitor social media, illegal betting, digital fraud, virtual platforms and the online activities of criminal organizations. Our cyber units, intelligence and operational units will work in coordination, we will follow the digital trace of the crime on the street and the response of the digital threat on the street. Fourth, you will be in the neighborhood and in the field. I want to see our police chief on the street, in the market, around schools and in risky neighborhoods as much as he is in his office. He will listen to our citizens." You will be in constant contact with our headmen, school administrators, tradesmen and families. I especially emphasize that you will be very sensitive about school security on the occasion of the incident in Turgutlu. You will evaluate the risk situation of each school separately, follow the school environment, the arrival and departure routes of our students, abandoned buildings, parks and gardens and suspicious activities. You will seriously evaluate the access to weapons, peer bullying, threats and violent tendencies and threats made on social media, and determine the risks provided by the legislation. "You will use our cyber units and intelligence facilities effectively within the framework of the authorities. You will strengthen your coordination with our provincial national education directorates, increase the effectiveness of our school liaison officers, and strengthen the patrol activities and visible police presence at the necessary points. We will take precautions before the danger comes to the door of the school. From now on, no police chief should consider school security as a routine security issue. Fifthly, you will make the power and compassion of the state feel on the side of the victim."

Ciftci called out to the police chiefs that no negligence should be allowed in cases of violence against women, domestic violence, crimes against children and disappearances, and continued his words as follows:

"You will follow the protection orders closely and prevent re-victimization. Every citizen who comes to our police station will encounter the fair, caring and solution-producing face of our state. We will show the power of the state against the criminal and the mercy of the state against the victim.

Sixth, you will show the power of the state through law and justice. We will be extremely determined in the fight against crime, but we will draw all our strength from the law. No matter how difficult the conditions are, the law is our limit and the legislation is our guide. You will not tolerate excessive power, ill-treatment, discrimination, arbitrariness and arrogance within our organization. The power of the state arises from law, and the reputation of the police arises from justice. Authority gains meaning with responsibility, and responsibility gains meaning with justice, law and conscience. Seventh, you will take care of your staff. You will get to know your staff, know their problems, and see their burden on the field. You will appreciate success, correct mistakes in a timely manner, and will not allow irregularities no matter who they come from. You will closely monitor our staff's working conditions, family life and duty-related fatigue. "The manager who demands discipline from his staff first shows discipline in his own decisions, language and behavior."

Minister Çiftçi stated that, eighthly, a common security mind and uninterrupted coordination should be established in the provinces and added:

"The security policies put forward by our governors and the directives they give are our basic framework. You will work in close consultation with our district governors and accelerate the flow of information between the police, gendarmerie, coast guard, intelligence, judicial authorities and other institutions. You will not leave a gap between institutions in security.

Ninth, you will not measure success just by the number of operations. Of course, the criminal caught, the drugs seized, the gang busted and the operation carried out are important. However, our main goal is to reduce crime and make our citizens feel safer. Our citizens' peace and sense of trust will determine our success report. Tenth, you will manage security communications as part of peace and public trust. You will not leave the information gap to rumor, manipulation and disinformation. You will share accurate, clear and confirmed information in a timely manner, protecting the confidentiality of the investigation and the privacy of our citizens. "The purpose of security communication is not to exaggerate fear, but to explain the truth and maintain trust."

Underlining that Türkiye has made significant progress in the field of security under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Çiftçi said that the next target is a Terror-Free Türkiye.

Çiftçi stated that they want cities where there is no terrorism, where gangs cannot dominate the streets, where drug dealers cannot reach young people, where organized crime organizations cannot instill fear in the citizens, and that the cities of the Turkish Century will be cities where peace prevails.

Minister Çiftçi concluded his speech by expressing his best wishes to the students injured in the attack in Turgutlu, Manisa.

WHAT HAPPENED?

An armed attack was carried out in front of İnci Üzmez Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Turgutlu district of Manisa at around 08:00 yesterday.

H.O., who was learned to be a ninth grade student. The assailant named opened fire randomly at the surrounding area with the hunting rifle in his hand.

11 students were injured in the attack, and the condition of three of them was reported to be critical.

The attacker, who escaped after the incident, was captured on security camera with a shotgun in his hand; He was caught after a while.

Minister of Internal Affairs Mustafa Çiftçi announced that the school where the attack took place was among the first-degree risk schools.

SCHOOL ATTACKS ARE ON Türkiye'S AGENDA

School attacks have been among the important agenda items in Türkiye for a while.

After the attacks in Kahramanmaraş and Şanlıurfa, a series of measures were taken for the security of schools.

A protocol was recently signed between the ministries of Internal Affairs and National Education regarding the measures to be taken in schools in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Minister of Internal Affairs Mustafa Çiftçi said that police would be assigned to first and second degree risky schools.

It was decided to employ officers called "garden guards" for the security of schools.