During the celebration marking
the handing over of the Police colors to the Police Force on
4thNovember, 1974, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, the Supreme
Commander conferred the title of “The Royal Oman
Police” on the newly formed force.
The title of “the Commissioner
for police” which was used to be the title of the president of
the force under the old Police Law No. 5/1973, a Royal Decree
was issued on 26th November 1974 changing the title to (the
Inspector General of Police and Customs).
Police Law
The ROP personnel are subject and
controlled by the Police Law issued by the Royal Decree No.
35/90 dated 10th March 1990 which replaced the old Police Law
(No. 5/1973). This Law consists of 104 Articles in 3 chapters:
First Chapter: Introductory provisions,
the formation of the Police
Force and its responsibilities
Second Chapter: Service in the Police
Force
Third Chapter: General Provisions
The Inspector General Of Police And Customs
The First Article of the Police Force has
defined (the Inspector General of Police and Customs as the
General Commander of the Royal Oman Police who is appointed by
His Majesty the Sultan to command, manage and supervise the
Police Force. The Inspector General of Police and Customs is
has the position of a Minister.
Role And Responsibilities Of The Royal
Oman Police
The role of the Royal Oman Police is the
same as that played by the police forces of all modern
nations. It maintains law and order throughout the country by
striving to control and prevent the occurrence and nab them in
the bud. It controls, tracks and arrest perpetrators and take
them to courts to allow justice takes its course.
Article (11) of the Police Law stipulates
that the mission of ROP is the maintenance of public order and
security and monitoring public behavior together with the
protection of lives, possessions, properties and honor. It
guarantees peace and tranquility in all fields. It curbs and
prevents the occurrence of crimes. It controls and arrests
criminals. It conducts inquiries and investigations and
collects evidence. It also assumes any other assignments and
responsibilities stipulated by the applicable laws and decrees
and all other duties enforced by laws and regulations.
All ROP stations in the different
Governorates, regions and wilayats receive reports and
complaints submitted by all injured or wronged victims and
inquire and investigate them. It also prepares all the files
of the reports and complaints that are satisfying the basis of
criminal conduct and refer them to the concerned and competent
courts. It also handles the problems and files of traffic
violations.
The Royal Oman Police is distinguished
from other police forces in many countries by being also
responsible of the tasks and responsibilities of customs.
ROP Flag
The Police Flag was created on 1973. It is a rectangle divided
by vertical lines into 4 rectangles. Three of these rectangles
with light equal bases in area with the colors of the national
flag. The green color is near to the post followed by the red
color, then the white color. The last rectangle is blue color
with a wide base, in its middle is found the Royal Oman Police
banner in white. The flag of the Royal Oman Police is hoisted
on all the buildings of the different formations of ROP
together with the national flag.
Police Ranks & Insignia
Article (4) of the Police Law issued by the Royal Decree No.
53/09 (the ranks of police servicemen) as follows:
Conventional Ranks of
Officers
Lieutenant General
Major General
Brigadier
Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Major
Captain
First Lieutenant
Lieutenant
Candidate for promotion (Murrashah)
Other Ranks
First Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
First Sergeant
Sergeant
Corporal
Policeman
Conscript
Officers wear the insignia of their ranks on the shoulders.
Insignias of other ranks are affixed on the right shirtsleeve.
Police Medals
Four medals with the Royal Oman Police logo was created in
1975. They are the following:
Royal Oman Police Medal for Efficiency
Royal Oman Police Medal for Courage
Royal Oman Police Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct
Royal Oman Police for Medal for Excellent Service
These medals are predominantly blue in color (the color of the
Royal Oman Police). The metal parts are similar in their
silver colors and the common face showing the Royal Oman
Police Flag but are different on the other side as it carries
the phrase (for efficiency) and (for courage) and so on. Two
branches forming a circular crown or garland surround these
phrases.
In 1980 the Royal Oman Police Medal for Excellent Service was
renamed (Sultan Qaboos Police Medal)
Women in ROP
The Sultanate is in the forefront of the countries that admit
and utilize women in their police force. Since its inception,
the Royal Oman Police (ROP) realized the Omani women’s role in
the society as a whole, and the need for them to play a
similar role in the organization. Therefore, two ladies were
recruited in the force in early 1972 for searching female
passengers at Oman’s former airport of Beit Al Falaj. In the
same year, another group of women was employed. Some of them
were assigned to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to
deal with females involved in crimes or witness in courts.
Others were assigned to the Directorate of Prisons for the
same purpose.
In 1974, the first detachment of policewomen was recruited.
Like the male recruits, those 17 girls received their proper
police training at the former Police Training School.
Throughout the years, the number of policewomen increased, and
some of them have even reached the ranks of officers.
Today, the Omani policewomen, who stand for modernity and
civilization, play a prominent role in different aspects of
police work and sections, especially those which are suitable
for women
