Governor Pehlivan: ‘We will never allow those who try to disrupt the peace and security environment’

Mersin Governor Ali Hamza Pehlivan stated that security and public order units continue their work 24/7 throughout the year, day and night, emphasizing that their aim is to ensure the peace of the citizens by enabling them to carry out their social and business life in the most beautiful, best, comfortable, and smooth way. Governor Pehlivan made statements regarding the security and public order services being carried out in the city. He underlined that the main purpose is to ensure security and public order from the city centers to the rural areas of Mersin, to maintain peace and well-being, and to take necessary legal actions against those who attempt to disturb it without delay. Governor Pehlivan stated that for this purpose, a total of 11,048 personnel from our Provincial Security Directorate, Provincial Gendarmerie Command, and Coast Guard Mediterranean Regional Command are on duty 24/7 in the field day and night. In these uninterrupted duty processes, activities, operations related to various crime titles, from public order to smuggling, from terrorism to organized crime, from narcotics to human trafficking, and cyber crimes are carried out by our security, gendarmerie, and coast guard units. Efforts are made in many areas of struggle against crime and criminals in these titles, and necessary actions are taken against crime and criminals within the framework of laws and relevant legislation.
Governor Pehlivan shared information about the activities carried out in the first 6 months of the year 2024, stating that a total of 45,754 public order incidents occurred in the first 6 months of the year. There has been a 3% decrease in public order incidents compared to the same period of the previous year. The clearance rate of the incidents is 93%. Governor Pehlivan mentioned that 32,448 individuals were apprehended in the first 6 months of 2024, of whom 2,399 were arrested. There has been a 30% increase in arrest rates compared to the previous year’s 6 months. A total of 1,535 weapons were seized from January to July. In the first 6 months of the year, there were 4,513 unsolved public order incidents, with a 40% decrease in unsolved incidents compared to the previous year, indicating intensive efforts by our teams, and the clearance rate of recorded incidents has increased to 95%.
Governor Pehlivan emphasized that the fight against theft is one of the most important areas of struggle, stating that in the first 6 months of 2024, 2,861 theft incidents occurred, with a 43% decrease in theft incidents and a clearance rate of 71%.
Regarding the fight against smuggling and organized crime, Governor Pehlivan stated that a total of 605 operations were carried out in the first 6 months of 2024, resulting in the apprehension of 947 individuals, of whom 156 were arrested. Governor Pehlivan mentioned that there was a 9% increase in work and operation numbers, an 11% increase in apprehended individuals, and a 28% increase in arrest rates, and all incidents were clarified.
In terms of the fight against drugs, Governor Pehlivan stressed the importance of the issue and stated that a total of 3,420 operations and activities were carried out in the first 6 months of the year, resulting in the apprehension of a total of 3,486 individuals, of which 377 were arrested. There has been a 26% increase in operations and activities, an 8% increase in apprehended individuals, and a 31% increase in arrest rates in total operations and activities.
Governor Pehlivan mentioned that in the first 6 months of the year, 54 individuals involved in human trafficking activities were apprehended, indicating a 46% increase in the apprehension of human trafficking organizers compared to the previous year’s 6 months.
Governor Pehlivan emphasized that the fight against terrorism is one of the most important areas of struggle, stating that a total of 187 operations were carried out in the first 6 months of the year, resulting in the apprehension of 342 individuals, of whom 122 were arrested. There has been a 171% increase in arrest rates compared to the previous year’s 6 months, with a 46% increase in apprehended individuals, and a 170% increase in operation numbers.
Governor Pehlivan provided information about traffic inspections, stating that a total of 1,610,210 vehicles were inspected by the Gendarmerie Traffic and Police Traffic teams in the first 6 months of 2024, with a 54% increase in inspections compared to the previous year.
Governor Pehlivan mentioned that Coast Guard Mediterranean Regional Command teams carried out 8,770 hours of duty at sea in the first 6 months of 2024, indicating a 30% increase in duty hours compared to the previous year, and 2,707 ships were inspected, with an 18% increase in ship inspection numbers.
Governor Pehlivan reiterated that all security and public order units continue their work 24/7 throughout the year, day and night, emphasizing that their aim is to ensure the peace of the citizens by enabling them to carry out their social and business life in the most beautiful, best, comfortable, and smooth way. The Governor stated that they have never allowed and will not allow anyone who tries to disrupt the peace, security, and unity environment. Any individual who commits a crime or intends to commit a crime, regardless of the purpose, is dealt with by the relevant law enforcement units.