Responding to public alarm over escalating lawlessness and sectarian violence, Egyptian political leaders urged police Thursday to return to the streets as soon as possible, saying their absence threatens to undermine the country’s fledgling democracy.
Often associated with corruption and abuse, the police force – with the exception of traffic police – has been largely out of sight since late January. Some officers have voiced fears of public retaliation for the killings of hundreds of demonstrators during Egypt’s recent uprising. Some police officers are being prosecuted, and others are simply staying home. The security vacuum in this city of 18 million has brought a rise in kidnappings, thefts, looting and armed attacks. While citizens say they welcome a redeployment of beat officers and detectives – some of whom reported back to the job Thursday – the stickier issue is the fate of the multilayered internal security apparatus that ousted president Hosni Mubarak used to subdue social unrest and maintain his rule.
Nabil Louka Bebawi, a former police major general who teaches at the police academy, said the force is frustrated over its reputation and must regain public trust. —AFP