The aim of the scheme is to get round the language barrier between foreigners and the Jandarma, and thereby speed up response times in emergency situations. Whilst this scheme is for foreigners only, the Chief did joke that it would be a good idea for some Turkish people to join!

Someone at the meeting asked if this Emergency ID number system could be used in other situations, for example if you had a medical emergency and needed an ambulance.

The Chief said that because the Jandarma would have your location details, in some circumstances, it may be helpful to call them first, and they can work with the ambulance service. The Jandarma is willing and able to assist in such situations, however it is for you to decide which route to go down, depending on the specific circumstances.

Crime prevention advice
The Chief was asked, what crime prevention advice would the local Jandarma give to property owners.

He responded with a few suggestions. Firstly, if you can afford it, CCTV is a good idea because if you can capture the image of a criminal at your property, it makes it much easier to find him, and bring him to justice.

[It is possible to have a system that sends images to a remote server, so that if your computer is stolen, you can still retrieve the burglars image. You need ADSL (broadband) to do this.]

You can invest in an alarm system. Some can be linked to a monitoring company via a telephone line, who can contact the Jandarma if your alarm goes off.

Physical security can be effective: such as gates, walls, railings, and metal bars on doors and windows.

It was also suggested that you can consider having a trusted friend to watch over your property in your absence. This could be your neighbour or perhaps the person who does your property maintenance.

For more advice on home security KTLN members can look in our Knowledge Bank: Home Security

Using a safe
Q: Do you think small safes work, or is it too easy for a burglar to remove them?

The Chief said that it is better to have larger safes that are fixed. Small safes are too easily removed.

Street lighting
Q: A KTLN reader raised the subject of street lights. These are a deterrent to burglars, but some lights don't work.

Phoning the Jandarma
Q: What is the best number to call in an emergency?

The local number is 0242 844 3005, and this will get you straight through to Kalkan Jandarma. If it's them you want, then this is the best number to call.

CCTV
Q: Some time ago Kalkan bought a number of CCTV cameras. Why are they not working? If they are broken can they be fixed?

The quality of the CCTV system was poor and it did not work as expected. The Chief said that the Jandarma would work with the Belediye on a project to see what can be done. It does depend upon the availability of money, but they will look into it.

A Turkish person in the audience mentioned a company that has already provided CCTV systems in 19 other districts, and a representative from that company will be asked to come to Kalkan to explain the options.

How safe is Kalkan?
Q: Is crime in Kalkan increasing or decreasing? Would it be possible to publish some statistics on break-ins? How does Kalkan compare with other towns of a similar size?

The Chief gave us a couple of numbers. In relation to break ins/burglaries, in 2009 there were 28 reported incidents, whilst at the end of the 2010 season there have been 26. He went on to say that Kalkan is the safest place in his whole region - looking at all types of crime.

The Jandarma Commander in Kalkan has a safe with many items that have been recovered when burglars have been arrested. If you have been burgled, you are welcome to go to the Jandarma station to see if you can identify any of this property as being yours.

The Chief said that he has a finger-print expert and he is prepared to send him out at any time of day or night, to a crime scene - joking that he would not hesitate to get him out of bed if required.

Lost passports
Q: A member of the audience asked whether the Jandarma would contact the British Consulate, if they found a British passport in recovered stolen property. They said from now on they will do this.

Dealing with intruders
Q: Another member of the audience asked what force could be used, if you found an intruder in your home.

The simple answer is that it is no different to the rest of Europe. You can use reasonable and proportionate force. However, the Chief did advise against confronting intruders. Whilst it may be a natural reaction to confront someone in your home, he said that it is not worth risking injury, or worse. His advice was to make lots of noise in the hope of the intruder running off. Obviously, call the Jandarma at the earliest opportunity.

Dangerous dogs
Q: Regarding street dogs, if they are dangerous (if they bite someone), should this be reported to the Jandarma or the Belediye?

You should report this to the Jandarma.

Late night noise
Q: What is the law regarding late night noise, for example, from bars? What time should the noise stop, and if it does not stop, can we call the Jandarma?