Morocco’s National Security (DGSN) made strides during 2024 in continuing to implement its action plan to strengthen institutional openness, enhance community policing, and reinforce communication with society and the media, according to the end-of-year report released by DGSN on Tuesday.
Recognizing that communication and outreach are essential to establishing citizen-centered policing and security strategies that align with the real expectations and aspirations of citizens, DGSN focused its efforts in 2024 on diversifying the forms and levels of security communication and adopting more advanced and participatory approaches with societal bodies and institutional stakeholders. This was part of a “genuine effort to implement a new philosophy of action focused on the co-production of security and making citizen service the primary and ultimate goal of public police work,” according to the report.
DGSN organized its fifth Open Days expo in the city of Agadir from May 17 to 21, 2024. It featured expanded spaces for citizen reception, more thematic pavilions, and a broader range of presentations. It welcomed 2,120,000 visitors to the venue and garnered over 25 million views of its activities on the DGSN’s app and official social media accounts, according to the report.
The event drew widespread participation from different societal segments, particularly students, with representation from 845 educational institutions, including traditional schools and Quran memorization centers. Additionally, 1,242 civil society organizations and journalists from 170 domestic and international media outlets were present, producing 1,097 media activities related to the event.
In terms of media engagement and public communication, the DGSN conducted 5,820 media activities during the year. This included issuing 1,674 press releases and news updates on security-related issues, participating in the production of 3,572 news reports, and broadcasting 534 digital contents on its official social media accounts. Furthermore, it published 40 clarifications or statements refuting what it deemed to be misinformation.
The DGSN recorded a significant reduction in fake news accounts affecting public security perception, as evidenced by the 40 corrections issued in 2024 compared to 340 in 2017 and 288 in 2018. This substantial decrease it attributed to the positive response from citizens reporting false information through the DGSN’s reporting platform and social media accounts, combined with the institution’s proactive communication approach to preempt rumors and fake news that could harm the sense of security.
Regarding violent content on social media with potential negative impacts on public safety, the DGSN’s monitoring systems identified 208 pieces of content documenting criminal acts or containing violent scenes in 2024, compared to 260 in the previous year.
DGSN carried out a number of technical investigations and security interventions and initiated legal proceedings against those involved. These were accompanied by public press releases to inform and reassure the community.
To strengthen digital communication, the DGSN published 534 posts on its official social media accounts during the year. The accounts now have 1,197,335 followers, distributed as follows: 500,550 on X (formerly Twitter), 472,285 on Facebook, and 224,500 on Instagram, the report stated.
The DGSN continued publishing its Police Magazine on its electronic platform and in print to ensure accessible security information for all. This year, additional old issues were archived and published to document the history of national security.
Efforts to digitize all past issues, starting from 1961, are ongoing. Four new issues of the magazine were released in 2024, covering timely topics such as the police’s role in managing the Al-Haouz earthquake, emergency response units, the role of forensic canine teams, and highlights from the DGSN Open Days.
The DGSN also resumed its program to promote awareness in schools, protect students from delinquency risks and the misuse of information systems and developed a new pedagogical toolkit for students.
During the first half of the academic year, 246,116 students from 2,956 educational institutions benefited from awareness sessions. Additionally, regional and local DGSN units held 991 meetings with non-governmental organizations and associations to address security concerns.
The DGSN maintained its tradition of responding to children’s requests to wear police uniforms. In 2024, 14 children who appeared in videos on social media or whose parents submitted written requests were hosted.
They received full police uniforms with accessories, learning tools, and the opportunity to tour police facilities. Similarly, a reception ceremony was held at the Tangier Police Headquarters for 291 children from Al-Haouz earthquake-affected areas who were participating in summer camps in Tangier. This event aimed to familiarize them with police operations and facilities.
Through these comprehensive communication efforts, the DGSN continues to strengthen its institutional openness, foster public trust, and deliver a responsive police service that meets citizens’ expectations and enhances their sense of security, according to the report.