The police ("shurta"), which took initiative in preventing and investigating crime, operated its own courts. Like the mazalim courts, police courts were not bound by the rules of Sharia and had the powers to inflict discretionary punishments. Another office for maintaining public order was the "muhtasib" (market inspector), who was charged with preventing fraud in economic transactions and infractions against public morality. The "muhtasib" took an active role in pursuing these types of offenses and meted out punishments based on local custom.