INTRODUCTION

The concept of a modern police force is relatively new to Oman. Hardly 30 years, ago, no internal security force existed in the country: Security was the responsibility If of the local walis who carried it out with the help of local "Askars". The police presence was limited to the township of Muscat and Muttrah.

All this changed in 1970 when His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said came to power. Very soon, the country saw the establishment of a highly competent and trained police force, now regarded as one of the best in the region.

In 1974, His Majesty conferred the title Royal Oman Police (ROP) on the newly formed force. In November that year, ROP received its colours from His Majesty the Sultan. The next year, the sprawling ROP headquarters was inaugurated in Qurum.

The year 1980 marked another major milestone in the history of ROP when His Majesty opened the Police Academy near Nizwa, recently renamed as the Sultan Qaboos Academy for Police Sciences. In January 1988, His Majesty the Sultan presented the Academy with its special colours.

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