This department embarks on criminal security tasks, which include judicial seizure, crime fighting, chasing and seizing criminals and bringing them to justice, prosecution and security control tasks in society. 

These tasks cover:

Gathering information about the criminal activity, and evaluating and analyzing it.
Research and investigation, and gathering evidences concerning committed crimes.
Referring cases, after the completion of evidence gathering, to the Public Prosecution.
Chasing people wanted in different criminal cases, and seizing and referring them to competent authorities.
Chasing wanted people at the local and international levels, and placing people having precedents under control.
Classification, sorting and filing of criminal information in collaboration with concerned authorities.
Fighting narcotics and all kinds of substances harming the mind and which they are legally classified.
Issuance of licenses concerning weapons, munitions and explosives, in accordance with relevant laws, rules and instructions.

The Criminal Research Department consists of the following five sections:
  Investigation Section
  Criminal Evidence Section
  Drugs Enforcement Section
  Forensic Laboratory Section
  Licensing Section