What is Police?
Police is the function of that branch of the administrative machinery of government, which is charged with the preservation of public order and tranquility, the promotion of the public health, safety, and morals, and the prevention, detection, and punishment of crimes.
Police in the Kingdom
Before late King Abdulaziz Al Saud, police existed only in Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah. Then, Police was a tool to fulfill governors’ rules in these towns. However, in villages and steppes police did not exist except through bringing disputing parts to the town.
Late King Abdulaziz Al Saud founded a general directorate for the police in Makkah, 1343 A.H. The duty of that directorate was to maintain the security in the sacred places and protect pilgrims. He also founded police divisions in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah besides passports works.
In 1346 A.H., Royal Order no. (344) was issued: all departments of Police to be combined under one administration in Makkah. Therefore, the administration of police in At-Tayef, Riyadh, Al Ahsa, Abha, Najran and Jazan were constructed. Police work included firefighting, caring of orphans, organizing traffic, passports works, expatriates affairs and the works of CPVPV. In 1350 A.H., Ministry of Interior was founded for the first time in Kingdom.
In 1396 A.H., a royal decree founded the General Directorate of Public Security, its divisions, duties and rules.
Police director represents the General Director in his region; he supervises the Public Security's branches in the region.