Sûreté Nationale (Morocco)

The General Directorate for National Security (Arabic: االمديرية العامة للأمن الوطني, Standard Moroccan Tamazight: ⵜⴰⵎⵀⵍⴰ ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵜⴰⵢⵜ ⵏ ⵜⵏⴼⵔⵓⵜ ⵜⴰⵏⴰⵎⵓⵔⵜ, French: Direction Générale de la Sûreté Nationale) Commonly referred to by its acronym (DGSN), is the national police force of the Kingdom of Morocco. The DGSN is tasked with upholding the law and public order. It was founded on 16 May 1956[1] by King Mohammed V. It works alongside the Gendarmerie Royale and the Forces Auxiliaires.

Direction Générale de la Sûreté Nationale
االمديرية العامة للأمن الوطني
ⵜⴰⵎⵀⵍⴰ ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵜⴰⵢⵜ ⵏ ⵜⵏⴼⵔⵓⵜ ⵜⴰⵏⴰⵎⵓⵔⵜ
Common nameSûreté Nationale
Mottoالأمن الوطني... فخورون بخدمتكم
National Security... proud to serve you
Agency overview
Formed16 May 1956[1]
Annual budget13 billion dirham (2022)[2]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionMorocco
Governing bodyMoroccan Ministry of Internal Affairs
Operational structure
HeadquartersRabat
Police officers78,146 (2021)[3]
Agency executives
Website
https://concours.dgsn.gov.ma/
Sûreté Nationale officer

In 2007, the Sûreté Nationale had approximately 46,000 personnel. A decade later, in 2017, the number of personnel increased to 70,000.

As of 2004, the Sûreté Nationale operated the following specialist divisions:[4]

  • The Border Police: responsible for border control and surveillance
  • Mobile Intervention Corps: tasked with rapid intervention in major emergencies
  • National Brigade: primarily responsible for investigation on serious crimes including terrorism, organized and white-collar crime.

History

Before colonialism, the Shurta (police) enforced Sharia law and ensured security across the country.[5] During the Almohad caliphate, the caliph took on the role of ṣāḥib al-shurṭa (head of police).[5][6] There were regional and tribal Muhtasibs (equivalent to a police commissioner) who were appointed by the Pasha.[7] The Muhtasib had the power to issue fines for minor offenses.[8] Criminals were tried in front of a Qadi, the judge of a Sharia court. The Qadi issued judgements in criminal, civil and commercial cases.[7]

In 1912, the Shurta was replaced by the Protectorate's Police Service after the installement of the French Protectorate in Morocco.[9] In 1913, a forensic identification unit was formed.[9][10] A general forensic identification service was formed in November 1931.[10]

On May 16, 1956, a year after Morocco gained independence, the DGSN was formed.[11] The Royal Institute of Police in Kenitra was inaugurated in 1978.[12] The Scientific and Technical Police Laboratory in Casablanca was created in 1991.[12]

References
  1. "National Police: 52 years of service to the nation and citizens". maroc.ma. 15 May 2008.
  2. "Le budget 2022 de la police algérienne est près de deux fois supérieur à celui de la DGSN marocaine". Le 360. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  3. "DGSN RH : un effectif total 78.146 fonctionnaires". Le Matin (in French). Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  4. Derdzinski, Joseph (13 October 2004). "Commander of the Faithful: Morocco, the King and the internal security forces". Archive.org. U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  5. Fromherz, Allen J. (2010). The Almohads : the Rise of an Islamic Empire. I.B. Tauris. ISBN 1-282-88107-8. OCLC 729030442.
  6. Rivet, Daniel (2012). Histoire du Maroc : de Moulay Idrîs à Mohammed VI (in French). [Paris]: A. Fayard. ISBN 978-2-213-63847-8. OCLC 820655352.
  7. Fillias, Achille (1860). L'Espagne et le Maroc en 1860 (in French). Paris: Poulet-Malassis et De Broise. p. 66.
  8. Godard, Léon Nicolas (1860). Description et histoire du Maroc. Paris: C. Tanera.
  9. "ARRETE VIZIRIEL relatif a l'organisation d'un service anthropométrique au Maroc" (PDF). Bulletin officiel de l'Empire chérifien (52): 4. 1913-10-24.
  10. Piazza, Pierre; Frappa, Amos (2017-01-10). "Histoire de la police scientifique (1832-1951)". Musée Criminocorpus (in French).
  11. Lahrach, Yassir. "La DGSN, vue de l'extérieur". Aujourd'hui le Maroc (in French). Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  12. "Histoire de la DGSN : Les dates phares". Maghreb Arabe Presse. Retrieved 2022-11-13.

See also


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