The first police department to be set up in Al Madinah Al Munawwarah dates from the beginning of the 1350s A.H/ 1930s A.C. It was called Al Madinah Al Munawwarah Police Force and its headquarters were located in Al Khalidiyah Palace. This palace, on the east side of Al Ghumama Mosque, was a two-floor building with four frontages. It was built with stone and had a courtyard with a well inside it. Al Madinah Police Department was comprised then of only one police office. That office was set up near Qiba’a Gate and it carried out the same functions of a modern-day police office.
Al Madinah Al Munawwarah Police Department had 60 staff including police officers, soldiers and civil servants. It was attached to the Administrative Governor who was the Emir of Al Madinah Al Munawwarah and fell under the administrative jurisdiction of the Public Security Department since the time when this department’s headquarters were located in Al Hamidiyah in Makkah Al Mukarramah.
Al Madinah Al Munawwarah Police Department included two divisions: accounting and registration. A third division was set up afterwards. Moreover, a criminal investigation and prison division was established to facilitate police criminal investigations and administrative functions. Muhammad Basrawi was appointed the first Commissioner for Al Madinah Al Munawwarah Police Department.
In the past, the neighborhoods of Al Madinah Al Munawwarah were surrounded by a wall, which contained many gates that were closed at night and were kept open during the day. Those who enter or leave the gates were easily identified; therefore, few policemen were employed at that stage. However, following the formation of Al Madinah Al Munawwarah Police Department, the need arose to appoint governors for the following districts:
• Qiba’a and Al Anbariyah district
• Bab Al Majidi district
• Bab Al Shami district
An assistant to the district governor was appointed and was called the Neighborhood Chief Warrant Officer. Moreover, night security guards were recruited and were tasked with carrying out field activities during the night in order to assist policemen in maintaining safety and security in the city. The Mayor and the Neighborhood Chief Warrant Officer were responsible for arresting individuals wanted by the police. Police officers also carried out field trips using horses as transportation.
Following the urban and population growth of Al Madinah Al Munawwarah, new police stations were set up in the following districts:
• Bab Al Misri Police Station: located at the entrance of a small market south of Al Anbariyah street
• Bab Al Jumua’a Police Station: located north of Al Baqi’i
• Bab Al Shami Police Station: located close to the castle and not far from the Assabq Mosque south of Al Madinah Al Munawwarah. This police station was the place where visitors to the city used to meet upon their arrival from the countryside, the desert or the neighbouring areas. They also used to keep their arms safe at this station and they collect them when leaving the city.
• Bab Al Awali Police Station: located south of Al Baqi’i
• Bab Al Anbariyah Police Station: tasked with registering the names of travellers and visitors to Al Madinah Al Munawwarah in special registers.
These police stations have contributed to gathering a great deal of information about incidents and events taking place in regions surrounding Al Madinah Al Munawwarah. Persons involved in a dispute used to come to these stations, and this enabled the Police Department and the police station to know about the incidents, which happened and to take the necessary measures appropriate in each case. Al Madinah Al Munawwarah Police Department kept in touch with other police stations and exchanged information with them about cases through a security soldier sent either by the department or one of the police stations. In those days, no other means such as a car or a telephone existed. After the removal of the wall surrounding Al Madinah, a police Station was set up at Qiba’a Gate and was later renamed Qiba’a Gate Police Office. The Bab Al Majidi Police Office and the Central Region Police Office were also set up during that period.
Al Madinah Al Munawwarah police ranks and equipment were later increased but Al Khalidiyah Palace was demolished and in its place raised a new modern building.
Al Madinah al Munawwarah Police Department included several divisions as follows:
• The Registration Division:
It received official inquiries, directives, memos and letters sent by various government departments, and presented them to the Police Commissioner. The Registration Division is now called the Police Commissioner’s Office.
• The Legal Division:
It was tasked with studying criminal cases, taking the necessary measures appropriate in each case and referring these cases to the Emir of Al Madinah Al Munawwarah. That division also conducted investigations into major criminal cases. It was later renamed the Criminal Investigations Division.
• The Central Station:
It was tasked with recruiting and training soldiers. The Public. Security Training City in Riyadh Province is now carrying out the duties of that defunct division.
• The Prison Division:
It was managed by a superintendent who was assisted by only one secretary. They were both in charge of all prisoner affairs including receiving prisoners; registering information related to the identity of each prisoner, the start of his prison term, the end of his prison term and the judgment issued in his case. Every day, reports were sent to the Emir of the Province about the prisoners.
Establishing Police Centers:
At the beginning of the 80s Hijri, the Public Security Department agencies underwent restructuring including Al Madinah Al Munawwarah Province Police Department. The administrative functioning of that department improved and its various divisions were renamed. Several new posts were created and as a result, staff numbers increased. Moreover, new equipment was purchased.
During the last twenty years, Al Madinah Police Department realized many distinctive achievements: it modernized its various divisions and started offering new services and conducting varied activities.
Al Madinah Police Department is today among the biggest police departments in the Kingdom and is attached to the central security body which is the Public Security Department.
Al Madinah Police Department is responsible for maintaining public security in Al Madinah Al Munawwarah Province and in the governorates, which are attached to the province.
The following Police Stations are related to Madinah Province Police Department:
• Yanbu’ Governorate Police Station
• Al Ulah Police Station
• Khaybar Police Station
• Al Hanakia Police Station
• Al Mahd Police Station
• Badr Police Station
• Al-Eais Police Station
• Wadi Al-Far'a Police Station
Al Madinah Al Munawwarah is assisted in its functions by several security agencies, which operate in the province and are attached to the Public Security Department.
There are a number of agencies which are attached to Al Madinah Police Department and which are responsible for the following functions: preventive security, traffic security and criminal security. These agencies are as follows:
• The Preventive Security agency
• The Criminal Inquiries and Investigations Unit
• The Criminal Evidence Unit
In addition to Departments that are specialized in security such as Traffic, Patrols and Narcotics Control.
• The Central Region District Police Office
• Uhud District Police Office
• Al Aqiq District Police Office
• Al Khalidiyah District Police Office
• Qiba’a District Police Office
• Al Aziziyah District Police Office
• Al Uyun District Police Office
• Airport Police Office
• Faisaliah Police Office
• Al-Awaly Police Office
The government of Saudi Arabia accords special importance to the Mosque of the Prophet Muhammad (May Allah’s Peace and Prayers be upon him) and to the visitors of this mosque; therefore, a Prophet Mosque Security Task Force has been established. This task force is responsible for safeguarding the security of this sacred site and is attached to Al Madinah Police Department.
The Saudi authorities give utmost consideration to the Hajj and Umrah seasons. The Ministry of Interior, in particular, continuously strives to provide visitors to the sacred sites in Makkah and in Al Madinah with all the necessary security services. The Ministry has a noble objective, which is to ensure optimum security and personal safety for each pilgrim and visitor.
Besides its responsibility for safeguarding security throughout the kingdom, The Public Security Department oversees the implementation of the directives of the Ministry of Interior regarding the safeguarding of pilgrims security.
Below is a list of Commissioners for Madinah Police Department since its inception in 1344 A.H/ 1926 A.C
• Mahdi Al Muslih: 1/6/1344 A.H
• Gen. Khalil Hajjan: 2/7/1344 A.H - 1346 A.H
• Husni Al Ali: 1346 A.H to 1351 A.H
• First Commissioner Abdurrazzaq Sa’ada: 1351 A.H to 1361 A.H
• Gen. Saleh Bakhatma: 1361 A.H to 1364 A.H
• Commissioner Muhammad Nuzmi Mustafa Ramzi: 1364 A.H to 1364 A.H
• Khalil Hajjan: 1366 A.H to 1370 A.H
• Capt. Abbas Tula: 1370 A.H to 1372 A.H
• Gen. Hasan Al Fay: 1372 A.H to 1375 A.H
• Capt. Abbas Tula: 1375 A.H to 1379 A.H
• Capt. Hasan Chiba: 1379 A.H to 1381 A.H
• Capt. Mustafa Arksus: 1381 A.H to 1386 A.H
• Brigadier General Ibrahim Barzanji: 1386 A.H to 1393 A.H
• Major General Abdurrahman Suwayleh: 1393 A.H to 1396 A.H
• Major General Zin Muhammad Tahir: 1396 A.H to 1398 A.H
• Major General Muhammad Niyazi: 1398 A.H to 1400 A.H
• Major General Ahmad Al Arifi: 1401 A.H to 1409 A.H
• Major General Abdurrahman Al Chahrani: 1409 A.H to 1414 A.H
• Major General Abdullah Annazawi: 1414 A.H to 1418 A.H
• Major General Fahd Ghawt: 1418 A.H to 1420 A.H
• Major General Yusuf Nasir Al Bunayan: 1420 A.H to 1425 A.H
• Major General Ahmad Dakhilallah Al Raddadi: 1425 A.H. to 1428 A.H
• Major General Awad bin Saeed Al-Sirgany: 1428 A.H. to 1432 A.H.
• Major General Saud bin Awad Al-Ahmady: 1432 A.H. to 1435 A.H.
• Major General Abdulhady bin Darhim Al-Shahrany: 1435 A.H till now.
Al Madinah Police Department like other police departments had, in its early days, limited resources to perform its functions given the overall situation in the country then. For instance, it had only one Jeep car, which was used by the Police Commissioner and in rare situations such as when a major incident happens in a neighboring area.
It was customary for a chief (Shaykh) of a particular area outside Al Madinah Al Munawwarah to provide a police officer with an animal for transport. The police officer could also borrow the animal in return for nearly two riyals.
Since then, Al Madinah Police Department has grown considerably in size and equipment, as has been the case with other police departments in the kingdom. It now employs well-trained police officers who hold academic degrees in various scientific fields offered by the best universities in the country.
Al Madinah Police Department uses modern techniques and equipment to investigate crimes and to track down criminals and offenders. It also uses various modern communication equipment. This equipment is operated by well-trained and highly qualified staff.
Like all other government departments and agencies, Al Madinah Police Department has one principal goal, which is to serve citizens in compliance with Shari’a Law, to enforce law and maintain order.