Erzurum’s “Huzurum Erzurum” Initiative Continues to Ensure City Safety
In Erzurum, the Provincial Police Department’s “Huzurum Erzurum” project, launched at the beginning of this year, continues to maintain the city’s safety through relentless day-and-night security inspections by the police teams.
Efforts to Reduce Crime Rates
The project aims at reducing crime rates and protecting the lives and property of citizens. Within this scope, police teams conduct intensive operations across the city, including checkpoints, parks, gardens, derelict buildings, public spaces, and areas with high crime rates. By conducting identity and vehicle checks, and utilizing security cameras, license plate recognition systems, and other technological tools, the teams diligently work to prevent crimes and apprehend the perpetrators.
Awareness Activities and Citizen Participation
The project also includes various awareness activities to encourage citizens to report incidents to the police and assist security forces. These efforts aim to raise public awareness regarding safety.
Successful Operations by the Public Security Branch
Kadir Yırtar, Erzurum Provincial Police Chief, emphasized the importance of the Public Security Branch, stating that there has been a significant increase in the rate of solving incidents this year. “When we compare the first five months of 2023 with the same period in 2024, we see that the rate of solving incidents in our province has increased from 94% to 98%,” Yırtar said.
Decrease in Crime Rates
Yırtar highlighted a reduction in crimes against property, noting that “In the analysis conducted among 30 metropolitan cities, our province ranked second in the rate of decrease in the number of incidents when comparing 2022 with 2023. Erzurum ranks first with a 34% decrease in crimes against property, sixth with a 5% decrease in crimes against individuals, and first in solving car thefts. There is also a 45% decrease in home burglaries,” he added.
No Car Theft Cases
Yırtar also reported a 63% decrease in open theft cases and a 74% decrease in home burglaries this year. Regarding business and institution thefts, he reported a 53% decrease, a 50% decrease in robbery incidents, and a 100% decrease in car theft and automobile theft cases. “Thankfully, there has been no car theft in our province this year,” Yırtar stated.
Intensive Inspections and Successes
Yırtar shared that in the first five months of this year, 776,000 people and 131,000 vehicles were checked, and 355 derelict buildings were inspected 8,457 times, while parks and gardens were inspected 3,885 times. During the inspections, a total of 131 pistols, including 41 blank-firing guns, and 41 shotguns were seized. “During our operations, 1,113 wanted individuals were apprehended, and 27.6 kilograms of drugs and 330 drug pills were seized in 233 incidents,” Yırtar stated.
Yırtar emphasized that security operations carried out under the motto “Huzurum Erzurum” from January to the end of May 2024 will continue with determination to ensure that citizens live in peace and safety.