The announcement by the head of the Law Enforcement Force that people will soon be given the option to refer their problems to “trustees or private police” in order to maintain higher levels of security, has stirred a controversy.
Commander of the Law Enforcement Force Esmail Ahmadi Moghadam’s statement that people will be able to hire “trustees or private policemen,” has invited a great deal of criticism. Although he said the private police force will not be entirely autonomous and “those wanting to join must have served at least 15 years in the national force.” But on such terms, the trustee option “will quite logically be wiped off the table, for no local trustee carries that many years or kind of experience,” Eghtesad News reported.
Although some were of the opinion that the police chief’s statement meant that neighborhood police forces, similar to those existing all over the world, would be created, the proposed plan was heavily criticized. Some have rightfully said the Law Enforcement Force itself is primarily responsible for the safety of citizens and should not hand over the responsibility to any other organization or individual. Criticisms were also leveled that if and when the private police force is introduced, “the way could be paved for the national force to dodge responsibility.”
Unaffordable
Some sections of the society, on the other hand, have admitted that they’d be willing to pay for the neighborhood, home, and personal safety. Several have maintained, however, that the majority of the population cannot afford to hire such services; the term ‘body guard’ should in fact replace ‘private police’ and it would apply only to a limited number of wealthy people given that they alone will be able to afford such luxuries.
Another issue which has been discussed is the establishment of police consulting offices. Chief of Criminal Investigation Department, Mohammad Reza Moghimi, said citizens dealing with issues related to police work needn’t necessarily have to refer to the police; instead they could consult the centers. He has also denied “the availability of private detectives or investigators of any sort.”
