Morocco Launches Municipal Police Forces to Tackle Illegal Construction

The creation of municipal police forces will be on the agenda of the territorial collectivities’ sessions for the month of May in accordance with the instructions of the governors of the provinces of Nouaceur, Mediouna and Berrechid. "Members of collectivities from these provinces have received summons, based on articles 33 and 38 of the organic law n°113.14 relating to communes, calling on them to accelerate decisions concerning the study and vote related to the creation of the aforementioned units, with the aim of putting an end to the disorder recently observed in the field of urban planning and occupation of public domain," sources specified to Hespress.

Thus, the study and approval of projects to create an administrative police service and the appointment of its agents are at the heart of the programs for the ordinary May sessions of the communes of Deroua and Had Soualem, under the province of Berrechid. Why create a municipal police? The programming of the launch of this service comes in response to criticisms contained in reports from inspection commissions under the General Inspection of Territorial Administration and the Regional Court of Accounts, regarding the reasons for maintaining the absence of administrative police in certain communes of the region, particularly urban ones, the same sources specified.

Moreover, recent campaigns to combat anarchic constructions and occupation of public domain conducted in several communes including Deroua and Had Soualem have revealed that it is necessary to have police officers to control offenders and strengthen communal resources. These operate under the supervision of the commune president. Their mission is summarized in several points: accompaniment, technical and legal assistance, as well as logistical support to various communal services, particularly regarding the application of decisions and deliberations of the communal council relating to urban planning, public health and safety, and occupation of communal public domain.

Municipal police officers are also responsible for raising awareness and promoting collective consciousness in matters of public health and safety, contributing to the increase of the commune’s financial resources, as well as improving public space.