Public Security to become Police

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Public Security Forces will be renamed ‘Police’ under a major overhaul of the force.

MPs will discuss the bill on Tuesday. If approved, the Public Security Forces Law will become the Bahrain Police Law. Rules on ranks, promotions, postings and staff support would also be revamped.

References to military courts would change to ‘police courts’. The term ‘military cadet’ would be replaced with ‘officer candidate’.

Article 44 of the current law would be removed. This article sets minimum and maximum time in rank before officers can be promoted.

At present, officers must serve three to five years from lieutenant to first lieutenant. They need four to five years to move from first lieutenant to captain, four to five from captain to major, and four to six years from major to lieutenant-colonel. The draft law re - peals these timelines and other promotion rules.

Under the new system, promotion decisions for of - ficers would follow conditions set by the Interior Minister. Non-commissioned officers, personnel and guards would be promoted by the Chief of Police under ministerial rules. The draft reshapes the rank ladder. It adds and renames grades for NCOs and guards, including a new ‘first warrant officer’ rank and an additional guard rank called ‘first guard’.

Inside the Interior Ministry, the single general committee would be replaced. A new Ministry of Interior Council and two standing committees — one for officers and one for personnel — would handle policy and staff issues.

On welfare, the Police Rewards Fund and Police Aid Fund would replace existing funds. The Interior Ministry, in its feedback, said it was open to adding civilian ministry employees to the aid fund. It added that allowances are reviewed periodically and depend on budget availability.

The Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee has recommended approval in principle, saying the changes match the ministry’s evolving structure and introduce new categories within the police force.