Minister of Interior Mahmoud Tawfiq said Egypt had undergone a fundamental security transformation since the events of 2011, moving from widespread insecurity to its current state of complete stability.
Speaking at a session titled “Homeland and Citizen Security” at Egypt Forum 2026, Tawfiq said the period following 2011 saw widespread security breakdowns and declining efficiency across various state sectors, leading to a sharp and concerning rise in different types of criminal offenses.
Referring to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s remarks on car theft during the forum’s opening session, Tawfiq said more than 72,000 cars were stolen between 2011 and 2013, reflecting the scale of the security breakdown compared with 2010, when car theft rates were lower.
The interior minister said security agencies had successfully implemented comprehensive strategies to restore control over the streets, curb criminal activity, eliminate car theft, defeat terrorism, and restore security and safety across the country.
The session was attended by Tawfiq, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, and Head of the National Authority for Crisis and Emergency Management Mohamed Abdel Rahman Rabie.
The session reviewed the Ministry of Interior’s efforts to modernize the security system and improve rapid responses to citizens’ reports, as well as the operational mechanisms of the national crisis and emergency authority and the State Defense Coordination Center.
Discussions also covered regional and international challenges facing Egypt and the country’s foreign policy amid regional instability and a changing global landscape.
Human Element at Core of Security Development
Tawfiq said the human element remained the cornerstone of efforts to develop the security system, stressing that modern technologies could not replace qualified and competent personnel.
He said the ministry had comprehensively upgraded its training and guidance systems while introducing new specializations across police sectors.
These included training and qualifying security personnel to protect cyberspace, combat cybercrime, and safeguard intellectual property rights.
The minister added that the development plan was based on modern scientific principles to improve monitoring and the early prediction of terrorist organizations’ movements and activities, enabling security agencies to thwart criminal plots before they were carried out.
Modernizing Operations to Counter Evolving Crimes
Tawfiq outlined the main pillars of the ministry’s updated strategy to modernize police operations and address increasingly sophisticated forms of crime.
The first pillar focuses on continuing to develop police facilities and capabilities across various sectors and equipping them with the latest technologies available through national resources.
The goal is to keep pace with evolving criminal methods and counter smuggling and illicit transportation in all its forms.
The second, and more important, pillar involves establishing an integrated security system based on scientific methods and technological advances, including artificial intelligence, he added.
The system is designed to analyze crime patterns and predict different types of offenses at an early stage, helping authorities develop appropriate operational plans and field measures.
Tawfiq said security operations rooms across all governorates had been upgraded and linked to a central security operations center equipped with advanced technologies and AI tools. The center oversees operations, coordinates command, and collects data in real time.
He added that the security studies center analyzes crime patterns and develops recommendations to address them.
It also assesses potential challenges arising from regional and international developments and prepares comprehensive security maps covering conditions on the ground across all governorates to support preventive and proactive measures.
AI Directs Emergency Calls for Faster Response
Tawfiq said the development of the police emergency response system relied on artificial intelligence to ensure rapid responses to citizens’ reports across all governorates, while maintaining efficiency and consistency in response times and field operations.
Under the new system, reports are automatically transferred electronically and immediately to the nearest available police vehicle or patrol unit to the incident location. This has eliminated disparities in response times between different areas and sectors across the country, he said.
Alongside the digital system, the ministry has established specialized security teams to monitor social media posts and videos containing complaints, distress calls, or reports of unlawful conduct, in response to the growing use of social media platforms.
The teams promptly alert the relevant authorities and dispatch security and field units to the scene, even when no formal report has been filed by the citizen.
The ministry also documents the measures taken and publishes the outcomes on its official page to keep the public informed of the facts, Tawfiq added.
Citizen Awareness Key to Countering Security Threats
Tawfiq said raising public awareness was a crucial component of national security and efforts to confront challenges, including external attempts to undermine the country’s security and stability.
He said the ministry had stepped up its public awareness efforts through strategic programs and initiatives targeting different segments of society, with a particular focus on young people.
These initiatives seek to strengthen citizens’ awareness and equip them with the knowledge needed to identify disinformation campaigns and rumors and respond to them responsibly, helping thwart attempts to undermine national security and social stability.
Transparency and Privacy Guide Disclosure of Complaint Findings
Tawfiq said the public has the right to know the facts and the findings of investigations into complaints or videos posted on social media, while ensuring that necessary privacy protections are observed when disclosing the results.
He said the ministry had made a point of publishing monitored videos or complaints on its official social media page, followed by a security statement and the findings of field investigations.
The aim is to transparently establish whether the complainant’s claims are accurate or clarify the circumstances surrounding an incident.
The minister said this approach to transparency and disclosure had fostered deep trust between citizens and security agencies, boosting public confidence in their ability to respond quickly and effectively to various problems and reports.
He added that the modern security system had made citizens active partners with the police in identifying negative practices and legal violations.
Citizens also play a role in evaluating security performance by following the findings of investigations and the measures taken.
Rehabilitation Centers Aim to Reintegrate Inmates into Society
Tawfiq said the ministry’s progress in modernizing its penal policy reflected a contemporary security philosophy focused on a comprehensive shift toward the rehabilitation and reform of convicted offenders.
He explained that rehabilitation and reform centers had been established in line with the latest standards to help correct inmates’ behavior, address criminal thinking and conduct, and improve their quality of life while serving their sentences.
The minister said the modern penal system provides inmates with opportunities for education, work, and vocational and skills training, preparing them for life after completing their sentences.
Tawfiq said the strategy has achieved two key objectives: protecting society from the dangers of crime and enabling inmates to return to society as productive individuals equipped with the social and cultural skills needed for reintegration.