Analysis of the transformation in law enforcement in Türkiye within the context of the New Public Service concept

In recent years, transformations in the understanding of public administration have radically changed the way public services are provided and the structure of public institutions. The New Public Service (NPS) approach, which has come to the fore in this process of change, has emerged as an approach that reshapes public administration based on principles such as citizen-focusedness, transparency, accountability, participation and commitment to ethical values. The main purpose of this thesis is to examine the effects of this approach on law enforcement officers working in the field of internal security and to evaluate the transformation process that has occurred in this context. While the state is positioned as a central authority that makes and implements decisions in line with the public interest in the traditional public administration paradigm, in the New Public Service approach, public administration sees citizens not only as individuals who receive services but also as stakeholders who play an active role in the formation of public policies. This paradigm shift has had significant effects on the operation of security services as well as on the provision of public services. In this context, the role expected from law enforcement officers is not limited to ensuring public order; it has evolved towards being a transparent and accountable public service provider that is sensitive to social needs. In this study, which was prepared in line with the analyses and literature review carried out within the framework of the legislation regulating the law enforcement organization in Turkey, the transformation experienced in the concept of public service and the reflections of this transformation on the law enforcement forces, which are the providers of security services, have been comprehensively addressed. The new responsibilities assumed by the law enforcement forces in line with the New Public Service perspective, the opportunities they face and the structural transformation requirements accompanying this process have been discussed in detail. As a result of the evaluations conducted within the scope of the study, it was concluded that the institutional and legal mechanisms that will ensure that law enforcement officers operate in accordance with the principles of transparency, accountability, and effective civilian oversight while performing their duties must be restructured. Furthermore, to protect fundamental rights and freedoms against arbitrary interference, it was emphasized that the law enforcement organization should be transformed from a structure based solely on the use of force and authority to one that prioritizes the public interest and provides citizen-focused services. In this context, the responsibilities and opportunities presented by the New Public Service approach to law enforcement were evaluated, and the role of law enforcement services within the democratization process was examined. Based on the findings, the necessity of restructuring law enforcement services on a participatory, human rights-sensitive, and publicly scrutinized basis was demonstrated. Keywords: Law Enforcement, Transparency and Accountability, Community Supported Law Enforcement, Citizen Focus, New Public Service.