Egypt creates new police division for youth aged 19-23 years

CAIRO: Egypt has created a new police rank for youths aged 19 to 23 year with arrest powers, increasing the number of law enforcement staff, amid rising incidents of terror attacks.

"The decision aims at creating a new rank of "police aides" who will be appointed and trained according to specific criteria," presidency spokesperson Alaa Youssef said.

The new rank targets youngsters from 19 to 23 years of age who have completed preparatory school and have good physical and psychological health that qualify a policeman, he said while commenting on a decree issued by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in this regard.

The country has been witnessing many violent attacks by Islamist militants since the January 2011 revolution that ousted President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.

The attacks targeting police and military increased after Egypt's first elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi was deposed by the army last year.

Over 500 policemen and soldiers have been killed in the attacks.

Egypt has declared a three-month state of emergency in parts of North Sinai and a curfew was imposed following a deadly attack that killed 31 soldiers in October.

The army has launched frequent security campaigns in the area, arresting suspects and demolishing houses that belong to terrorists, including facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip.