• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Istanbul
  • Cappadocia
  • Mediterranean
  • Aegean
  • Black Sea
  • Other Places
Turkish Travel Blog

Turkish Travel Blog

Turkish People, Culture, History, and Places inTurkey

  • Culture and Traditions
  • Food and Drink
  • History
  • Travel Tips
  • Living in Turkey
  • About Turkey
    • About the Blog
    • Advertising
    • Contact

Crime in Turkey

by Natalie

Expats here often compare crime in Turkey with that of the UK. I have heard the following comments more than once…

“The Turkish police would not put up with that nonsense”

“I can tell you now that the Turkish police would beat the s*** out of them”

Now it would be a mistake to think that crime does not happen here in Turkey because it does. Occasionally, peaceful demonstrations in large cities get out of hand and there are many occasions when I have picked up the newspaper to read stories of rioting in towns like Diyarbakir.

However the major difference is there is an unwritten rule that you do not s*** on your own doorstep. Yes, riots in Turkey are so dignified that you aim for the police, their vehicles and nothing else. If you start damaging and looting people’s homes or business, you better have a miraculous ability to wake up the next morning with a new face and identity.

Crime in TurkeyCrime in Turkey : The Turkish Police

The main conversations in the ex-pat community were comparing the Turkish police with the British. In these conversations, the Turkish police were suddenly elevated to this status of super gods and anyone would think that crime in Turkey did not exist.

Now, I have to admit that I have never been a hard core supporter of the Turkish police. This would date back to memories of overinflated speeding tickets, domestic violence against women that was ignored and a general attitude of “do as I say and not as I do”.

The Turkish police however do live up to the typical stereotyped role and not many people would like to cross swords with them. Crime in Turkey overall is relatively low however in the big cities like Istanbul; pickpocketing of tourists is rife and in my own town of Altinkum, burglaries stats have gone through the roof.  Criminals will struck when opportunity lets them and no “Rambo” stereotyping of the police force can prevent that.

Turkish policeBut in Turkey, It Is Not About The Police

It would be a mistake to think that the low crime in Turkey is purely down to the police force because it is not. The low crime is because of culture and society.

Generally, there are three things that are at the heart of every Turkish community. Pride, Families and Livelihood

If you try to threaten any of the above, then you are forewarned that you have made enemies for life. I do not know many Turkish people who would call the police if they felt an intrusion into their lives by someone intent on damaging and destroying any three of the above key elements. They would deal with it in their own way.

How Is Crime Dealt With?

In my first year of living in Turkey, I learned harshly that the police  do not rule the streets and sometimes defending your property can develop into an incident much worse.  I had settled in the tourist, coastal resort of Marmaris and was a witness to an incident that has stayed with me to this day.

A man had lifted an item from a shop without paying for it. Five shopkeepers were chasing him down the street; they caught him and gave him the kicking of his life. You might say “Bravo” because after all, he was a thief.

I say different because I looked at the soles of that man’s shoes as they were hanging off. I saw his unwashed skin and his tattered and old clothing. The man was on the poverty line and for all I know was stealing to provide for his family.

The loud cracking sound that I heard was explained to me as the sound of his skull cracking. That is one memory that I have from my time in Marmaris and eleven years later, I still cannot get it out of my head.

Crime in Turkey

I am not under the illusion that Turkey is sown up lock, stock and barrel when it comes to crime, but I do know that I feel a lot safer on the streets of Turkey than I ever felt in the UK.

There are unwritten rules firmly engrained into society and communities and these rules revolve around pride, families and livelihoods. Throw a little bit of respect into the mixture along with a sense of community spirit and everyone is prepared to deal with the tough times without turning on their own.

Further Reading : Article from Wikipedia about crime in Turkey

Pin
Share21
Tweet
Share
21 Shares

Filed Under: Living in Turkey

Hi. I'm Natalie, a freelance travel blogger and writer specializing in the country of Turkey. I love hot summer days, historical sites and coffee. Read More…

Primary Sidebar

istanbul tourist pass

Search This Website

Popular Posts

Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul : Last Days of the Ottoman EmpireDolmabahce Palace in Istanbul : Last Days of the Ottoman Empire49K Total Shares
The Colourful Wooden Mosque of MaralThe Colourful Wooden Mosque of Maral6K Total Shares
Santa Claus and His Life in TurkeySanta Claus and His Life in Turkey5K Total Shares
Sanliurfa (Urfa) : The City of Abraham in TurkeySanliurfa (Urfa) : The City of Abraham in Turkey4K Total Shares
The Serene House of the Virgin MaryThe Serene House of the Virgin Mary3K Total Shares
Ottoman Intrigue at Topkapi Palace in IstanbulOttoman Intrigue at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul3K Total Shares

Footer

Everything Else

  • Blog Sitemap
  • GDPR, Privacy and Cookies
  • Terms of Use and Disclaimer

Of Interest

  • About Us
  • Advertising and PR
  • Map of Turkey

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright @2023 - Turkish Travel Blog

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT