Turkey: Second Police Force The Turkish Parliament has increased the powers of the Bekci (The Turkish "neighbourhood watch"). Operating at night, the Bekci will now be allowed to use firearms on the job. The Bekci was re-established in the aftermath of the 2016 attempted coup. The Turkish opposition fears it will be used as a government militia and a form of 'morality police' such as the one that exists in Iran. The proposal was pushed through the Turkish parliament by Recep Erdogan's Islamist ruling party. Previously these guards carried batons and whistles, while only the police carried guns. The bill allows more than 21,000 members of the neighborhood watch to use firearms, stop vehicles, check IDs and perform physical searches, but they cannot arrest or investigate suspects. Opposition officials say the recruitment process for the Bekci force is confidential, prompting suspicion that recruits will be selected exclusively from those loyal to Erdogan. Source: Walla News