The Organizational Structures of Security Agencies In Arab States Dr. Mamdooh Abdelhameed (Ph.D., J.D) Professor of Police Science & Law

General Remarks And Notices First: The upper political leadership of the security organs. Second : Upper executive leadership of security organs in Arab states. Third: The philosophy of security work Fourth: Summarizing common aspects of organizational structures of Arab security organs.

First: The upper political leadership of the security organs 1 - All Arab states have a central ministry that is responsible for internal security in its comprehensive sense. This ministry is called the Ministry of the Interior and the person in charge of it is called the Minister of the Interior.

2 - In all Arab states, the Minister of the Interior is assisted by Deputy Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Under-Secretaries of the Ministry The modern criminal justice system is composed of a police force (with its administrative and criminal parts), general prosecution, the judiciary, penal and reformatory institutions and the juvenile criminal justice system.

4 - The duties of the modern criminal justice system are divided among three ministries: The Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Social Affairs.

* In Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the Emirates, Yemen and Sudan, the Ministry of Interior shoulders the responsibility for combating crime, detection, arresting those who commit crimes, investigations, presenting cases before criminal courts, representing the prosecution and then supervising the implementation of penalties, penal and reformatory institutions and supervising juvenile justice In Saudi Arabia and Sudan, a system of prosecution is being instated under the supervision of independent bodies or the Ministry of Justice. 5 - All Arab states follow at varying degrees, the principle of separation of powers. Here we notice the following: * In Algeria, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt, it is noticed how procedures of crime fighting, such as crime control, detection and the gathering of evidence (undertaken by the organs of the Ministry of Interior) and judicial or semi-judicial procedures and supervision of penal institutions, which are left to the charge of the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Social Affairs

Second: Upper executive leadership of security organs in Arab states. 1 - The general executive commander responsible for security organs before the Minister of Interior is known in each Arab states as: 1- Saudi Arabia : Deputy of Minister of Interior. 1- Saudi Arabia : Deputy of Minister of Interior. 2 - Egypt :A number of assistants to minister. 2 - Egypt :A number of assistants to minister. 3 - United Arab Emirates : Under-secretary of Ministry. 3 - United Arab Emirates : Under-secretary of Ministry. : Director of Public Security. Qatar 4 - : Director of Public Security. Qatar 4 -

2 - Arab security organs take up the following administrative division : * Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt :Sectors, General Department,Department, General Directorate. * Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt :Sectors, General Department,Department, General Directorate. * the rest of the countries take one or more from these administrative security division. * the rest of the countries take one or more from these administrative security division.

Third Remark: Facts and notices related to type of security administrative system 1 - All Arab states follow central security-agency system wherein the minister of the interior and the supreme executive commander directly supervises security operations in all regions of the state and on all administrative, financial and technical matters. The only exception is the United Arab Emirates which follow a decentralized system by which each emirate undertakes responsibility of its security organs in full whereas the federal security command is considered a general coordinating and supervising body.,

2 - Members of security agencies in all Arab states have considerable military training, wear a uniform and carry fire arms which the are allowed to use in accordance with discretionary powers they are granted. They are subject to military discipline and follow a ranking system that is similar to military ranks in practice in Arab countries.

Third: The philosophy of security work: 1- The organizational structures and the naming of security organs in Arab states are affected by lack of compatibility between security philosophy and the general directives for security work and their organizational structures. Some Arab states adopt a concept of comprehensive security. Others limit their focus to criminal or political security. There is the comprehensive security man who possesses the powers of arresting, control and search – anywhere and in the different fields of law enforcement. Some Arab states adopt a concept of comprehensive security. Others limit their focus to criminal or political security. There is the comprehensive security man who possesses the powers of arresting, control and search – anywhere and in the different fields of law enforcement. There are also security people who specialize in specific fields of work or have specific domains of competence that they do not operate outside of.

2 - One of the most controversial matters in the issue of structures of Arab security organs is the presence of security sectors under different names, such as the public security sector, the police sector, the public investigation sector, the state security investigation unit or the criminal investigation unit. In some countries public security means the special organ for the state ’ s political security, the crime combat forces and the traffic department. In some countries public security means the special organ for the state ’ s political security, the crime combat forces and the traffic department. On the other hand, we find that public investigation means the political security organ, or it means the crime control agency. All of this represents an obstacle in the way of efforts to unify organizational structures and sows the seeds of misunderstanding in the general public.

Fourth: Summarizing common aspects of organizational structures of Arab security organs. 1 - The political history of each Arab state has had its impact on the official organization of the security body and that was further reflected on the organizational structure of security organs in general. 2 - Although each state started doing away with the systems and names left behind by the colonial powers, they kept some of the local and environmental circumstances. However, the echo of the European system is still heard from far away, especially in terms of names and organizations at a second degree

3 - Arab states almost follow a unified system in selection of personnel for security organs in general, and the police in particular. 4 - The system of selection of personnel for security sectors undoubtedly relates to the dominant social system in Arab countries in general and in each state in particular. 5 - It is noticed that the formation of personnel manning Arab security organs is divided into two categories: commissioned officers and other ranks. Each category has its own system of selection and the conditions of such selection and the social class that those chosen come from.

A.) Officers are generally selected out of university graduates or high-school graduates as a minimum requirement. They then are qualified at security colleges and institutes for a period of no less than two years at least. There are systems of three-year and four-year training. B.) Other ranks that set about their professional process from the rank of foot-soldier have different conditions for their joining the forces. They are not required to meet all requirements asked of commissioned officers. It suffices to have a primary schooling. Some countries did not even ask for that but were satisfied with knowledge of reading and writing.

6 - The Interior Ministries in all Arab states are sovereign ministries. This helps upgrade security work, boost its value and significance. This is because the ministries of interior are responsible for security in all Arab states. 7 - Therefore, it is noticed that ministries and organs of security in Arab states have a sovereign status, which places security work at the top priority of state work and positions those in charge of security among the leaders who draw up general policies of states, whereby security aspects have presence and consideration in public life.

8 - all Arab countries take up a centralized system of security. Some countries tried to adopt a decentralized system because of the vast area of the country and the difficulty in controlling security from the capital. 9 - If we look at region security organs in Arab countries, with the exclusion of the political security agency, we find that most Arab countries adopt not only the system, but also the designations in unison. We find departments of criminal investigation, passports, immigration and nationality, planning and training, civil defense, Police College and institutes, special security forces, an administrative sector and officer affairs and the traffic sector that are adopted by almost all Arab countries..

10 - Although all police organs in Arab countries carry out the task of crime prevention and detection as a traditional charge, along with gathering of evidence and preliminary investigation into crimes, the difference comes later when some Arab criminal systems give the police all duties including conducting all procedures of criminal investigation and presenting cases to court. But some countries assign the police the task of gathering evidence and assign the powers of investigation to the Prosecutors office.

11 - It is noticed, from the general fabric of Arab security organs, that there is a similarity in terms of organizational structures but when you look into details of these structures and designations, you find that there is disparity. This difference may stem from the particularity of each state and the local circumstances surrounding it and this occurs to suit the situation.

So, what is required is to look into the disparity of philosophies and work directives and goals, then to move to look into structures and designations. We are convinced that security structures, philosophies and directives stay the same and are harmonious. what is required is to look into the disparity of philosophies and work directives and goals, then to move to look into structures and designations. We are convinced that security structures, philosophies and directives stay the same and are harmonious.