Ministry of Interior

Ministry of Interior Frequently asked questions Q: What is the status of the Police Force in Baghdad? A: The 318 th Battalion of Military Police is working with the Baghdad police. They are training the Iraqi police on the job by doing joint patrols. The majority of the police force has reported to work since the May 4 announcement to return to work. Almost all traffic police and fire brigade have returned to work. The numbers are as follows: Patrol 1679/2700 Vital Guards 1112/6705 Traffic 1479/1600 Civil 973/1275 Q: How is the Police Force getting paid? A: Emergency payments of $20 are being made. We are working on a pay scale. Q: Weren't the Police used as an instrument of Torture and Intimidation during the regime? Are people going to trust them? A: True, some police were used for terror and intimidation. Which is why we are not asking the following units back: The Criminal Investigations Division, Police Security Office are not being reestablished. And the following organizations, which reported directly to Saddam Hussein, the Intelligence Services, Public Safety Directorate, Military Intelligence Directorate, Special Guard Directorate and Emergency Brigade. Q: What about the security of Baghdad? Isn't there still looting going on? A: The looting in Baghdad has decreased dramatically since the end of the war, and this will only continue with the return of police. Our goal is to have all 60 police stations staffed twenty-four hours a day as soon as possible. Q: How many Police Stations do you have staffed 24 hours a day at the moment? A: A few are staffed twenty-four hours a day as of May 14. Nearly all of them are staffed during some portion of the day.