The crime of possession of psychotropic substances by a policeman - a comparative study

Legislation has criminalized actions that violate the dignity of the employee, diminish their status, and undermine the prestige of the state. Among these acts are offenses related to psychotropic substances. The Iraqi legislator has criminalized the possession of psychotropic substances by a policeman in an unauthorized manner under Clause (First) of Article (13) of the Law of Internal Security Forces. This is considered one of the crimes that harm the reputation of the job, aiming to preserve the integrity and prestige of the security institutions. Since the role of a policeman generally requires distancing oneself from committing any act that would tarnish their image or reputation, committing such acts would directly conflict with professional ethics and practices, contradict the duties of a policeman, and breach the obligation to combat crime and protect society. Consequently, it will have a negative impact on individuals in society, as it weakens trust in security institutions and leads to the spread of corruption within the community. Therefore, the Ministry of Interior demands that a policeman, whether an officer or a non-commissioned officer, must possess the highest levels of discipline and professional commitment to combat crime and protect individuals. He must steer clear of committing any behavior that would undermine human dignity and honor. Among these behaviors, crimes related to psychotropic substances have particularly dangerous effects, causing significant harm to both individuals and society.