The General Directorate for National Security (Arabic: االمديرية العامة للأمن الوطني, Standard Moroccan Tamazight: ⵜⴰⵎⵀⵍⴰ ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵜⴰⵢⵜ ⵏ ⵜⵏⴼⵔⵓⵜ ⵜⴰⵏⴰⵎⵓⵔⵜ; French: Direction Générale de la Sûreté Nationale, DGSN) is the national police force of the Kingdom of Morocco. The DGSN is tasked with upholding the law and public order.
It was founded on 16 May 1956[1] by King Mohammed V. It works alongside the Gendarmerie Royale and the Forces Auxiliaires.
In 2007, the Sûreté Nationale had approximately 46,000 personnel. A decade later, in 2017, the number of personnel had increased to 70,000.
As of 2004, the Sûreté Nationale operated the following specialist divisions:[4]
The Border Police: responsible for border control and surveillance
Mobile Intervention Corps: tasked with rapid intervention in major emergencies
National Brigade: primarily responsible for investigation of serious crimes, including terrorism, organized and white-collar crime.
There were regional and tribal Muhtasibs (equivalent to a police commissioner) who were appointed by the Pasha.[7] The Muhtasib had the power to issue fines for minor offenses.[8] Criminals were tried in front of a Qadi, the judge of a Sharia court. The Qadi issued judgements in criminal, civil and commercial cases.[7]
On July 20, 1901, Morocco formed its first national border patrol.[9][10] The patrol was in charge of ensuring the security of the border with French Algeria, under the control of a commissioner in Oujda.[11][12]
In 1906, the Algeciras Conference led to various police reforms in Morocco.[13] The reforms established a national police force that would fall under the Sultan's sovereign authority. The police force's recruitment would be overseen by the Makhzen and commanded by Caïds. Additionally, the police force would be stationed in the eight ports that were open to international trade.[14][15]
Protectorate
In 1912, the General Police Service was created after the installement of the French Protectorate in Morocco.[16] In 1913, a forensic identification unit was formed.[16][17] A general forensic identification service was formed in November 1931.[17]
Post-independence
On May 16, 1956, a year after Morocco gained independence, the DGSN was formed.[18] The Royal Institute of Police in Kenitra was inaugurated in 1978.[19] The Scientific and Technical Police Laboratory in Casablanca was created in 1991.[19]
On 8 September 2023, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 Mw hit Marrakesh-Safi region of Morocco.[20][21] DGSN along with DGST has announced it will contribute MAD 50 million to Special Fund for Managing Earthquake Effects.[22][23][24] They set up two mobile bakeries near Marrakech, to provide bread to those who were affected by the earthquake.[25]
