Public Security Forces

The Public Security Forces, formerly known as the Bahrain State Police, are the principal Bahraini law enforcement arm of the Ministry of Interior. They are commanded by Maj. Gen. Tarek Al Hasan and include all Ministry of Interior field units responsible for maintaining order and security in Bahrain.HistoryThe Bahrain Police Directorate was first established in 1961 to address internal security, and was headed by Shaikh Mohammed ibn Salman Al Khalifa. At the time of Bahrain's independence from Britain in 1971, the name of the Directorate was changed to the Ministry of Interior, and the State Police was renamed as Public Security Forces.DepartmentsThe following units and departments are among those that report directly to the PSF command:The police departments of five of the governorates of Bahrain (Manama, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Janabiyah and Wusta).The Special Forces Department.The Special Protections Department.The Counter Terrorism Centre.The General Directorate of Guards.The Traffic Police.The Operations Department.The Coast Guard.Role during 2011–present uprisingMembers of the PSF were the law enforcement officers most often involved in crowd control, and thus in direct clashes with protesters, during the Bahraini uprising. According to a Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) report issued in November 2011, they were equipped with "body armour, shields, batons, sound bombs, tear gas and shotguns." They undertook all operations to clear protesters from the Pearl Roundabout, including one that took place on Bloody Thursday which led to the death of four protesters. The PSF also carried out arrests, patrol missions and searches.