Politicians have attributed the lawlessness and chaos that swept the country in the recent period to security authorities’ unwillingness to work hard to take control of the street. They demanded that President Morsy quickly take action to restore security.
Wahid Abdel Meguid, an expert at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said that this unwillingness is due to the absence of any radical change since the revolution.
“The police do not want to go back to patrol the street and take control of the security void, except on their own terms,” he said
Abdel Meguid said that the police want to go back to adopting their old methods of repression and destroying the dignity of citizens. "This is a routine way of handling things within the police, because they can not treat people with respect."
He said that this new phase requires the police to treat citizens according to law, which is a new concept for them and is difficult to implement, especially since citizens no longer accept old methods that rely on humiliation without reasons.
Abdel Meguid said that thuggery has been planned by the security authorities and the police to force the people into accepting the old way of treatment, because it leaves only two options for citizens, security or dignity and freedom.
Former MP Emad Gad attributed the security void to people’s loss of fear of the police. He said Egyptians would attempt act outside of the law, citing sectarian strife in Dahshur and the Nile City violence.
Gad said that the role of the state is now limited to issuing statements and not holding anyone accountable. If one was punished every body will fear the police.
In Gad's opinion, the fall of the police on 25 January 2011, and the ongoing political conflict in the country has prevented them from fulfilling their duties.
He stressed the need for the police to gradually return to enforce the law strictly.
Sunday, Prime Minister Hesham Qandil held a meeting with ministers and top officials to discuss ways to restore security.
Qandil met with the ministers of interior, health, justice, local development, manpower and the chief of intelligence. The meeting focused on the impact of the demonstrations and sit-ins, assaults on hospitals, arms smuggling and banditry on the status of the security in the country.
“We came up with several recommendations to restore security in the hospitals in coordination with the armed forces,” said Interior Minister Ahmed Gamal al-Din. “The state will not fall in the hands of thugs and outlaws.”
“The police now need cooperation from all the people,” he added.
On Saturday, Qandil paid a surprise visit to the Qasr al-Nil Police Station to check how detainees are treated on d follow up on their investigations. He accompanied Interior Minister Ahmed Gamal Eddin.
Sheriff Hani Girgis told the prime minister that there are 20 detainees who would be referred to the prosecution right away.
The detainees assured Qandil that they are treated well, which prompted him to express his appreciation for the police and their efforts to restore the security and stability of the Egyptian street.
Edited translation frojm Al-Masry Al-Youm
