07.11.2026 13:41
Minister of Interior Mustafa Çiftçi announced the efforts being carried out to improve police officers’ working conditions. Stating that a 12/36 shift system has been introduced in some units, Çiftçi said that overtime pay is planned in places where this system cannot be implemented. Also announcing that a housing project has been launched so that police officers can become homeowners, Çiftçi stated that the first foundation will be laid in Ankara and that the goal is to increase the number of police housing in Istanbul to 5,000.
Minister of Interior Mustafa Çiftçi made important statements regarding working hours, overtime pay, and housing opportunities that the police organization has long awaited. Stating that they are aware of the demands of police officers, Çiftçi said that they are carrying out multiple efforts both to change the shift system and to improve their economic conditions.
12/36 SHIFT SYSTEM FOR POLICE OFFICERS HAS STARTED
Noting that the regulation on police officers' working hours has begun to be implemented in some units, Minister Çiftçi said, "We need to switch to 12/36," and stated that it is not possible to implement the system across the entire organization.
Çiftçi said, "Of course, we cannot switch to this system in every unit. We cannot switch to it in counterterrorism, cybercrime, or narcotics units. But there are units where we can. We can switch in police stations, sensitive areas, and the protection branch, for example."
Announcing that the transition to the new system in suitable units began as of September, Çiftçi stated that inspectors are auditing in the provinces whether the implementation has been put into practice.
OVERTIME PAY REGULATION FOR POLICE OFFICERS
A different regulation is being worked on for units where the system based on 12 hours of work and 36 hours of rest cannot be implemented. Minister Çiftçi announced that there are plans to pay police officers working in these units for their overtime.
Çiftçi said, "We envisage overtime pay in units where we cannot provide 12/36. Others can switch to the system and gain the opportunity for more comfortable conditions, but there are places where we cannot do this. Our next effort will be the payment of their overtime."
OPPORTUNITY FOR POLICE OFFICERS TO OWN HOMES AS IF PAYING RENT
Another effort announced by Minister Çiftçi aims for police officers to own homes. Drawing attention to the fact that rising rent prices, especially in metropolises such as Istanbul, Izmir, and Ankara, make police officers' living conditions harder, Çiftçi announced that a project has been launched to enable home ownership through long-term payment options.
Çiftçi said, "We have launched an effort for our police officers to own homes as if paying rent, with long-term installments, by building mass housing here. We are starting with Ankara first. We will lay its foundation in the coming months, and we will expand this effort, which we started in Ankara, to Izmir, Istanbul, and other major cities."
NUMBER OF POLICE HOUSING UNITS IN ISTANBUL TO BE INCREASED TO 5,000
It is also aimed to increase the existing housing capacity for police officers' accommodation needs. Stating that there are approximately 3,350 housing units in use by the police organization in Istanbul, Minister Çiftçi announced that this number is planned to be increased to 5,000 in the near future.
Thus, it is aimed to add approximately 1,650 new residences to police housing in Istanbul. The details of the housing project and the regulations regarding overtime pay are expected to become clear through the work to be carried out.