Manama: Kuwait’s public security has warned of a zero-tolerance policy towards young men showing off and flirting near girls’ schools.
“We have taken all the required measures to deal with negative behaviour near schools, Mahmoud Al Dossary, the interior ministry assistant undersecretary for public security, said.
“We will be firm in addressing negative attitudes by boys near girls’ schools, fights, bogus calls to the police, traffic congestion and everything that could mar the normal unfolding of a school day,” he said, quoted by local Arabic daily Al Anba on Saturday.
More patrols will be on the roads to monitor behaviour while better links with the operation rooms will help speed up measures to settle issues, he said.
“We will be prompt in dealing with any situation to ensure that everything remains under control,” the official said.
Traffic plans to ensure smooth movement of vehicles transporting students were drawn up with several stakeholders that included state institutions.
“We also talked with school principals in order to establish and reinforce communication channels that will help the public security agencies deal with possible problems,” Al Dossary said.
“In all cases, the public security staff will deal uncompromisingly and stringently with all negative attitudes and behaviour. We will not tolerate the use of cars to show off in front of girls’ schools or to engage in attention-seeking activities behind or ahead of buses carrying girls,” he said.
The official said that he was looking forward to parents and students appreciating the difficulties and challenges associated with reinforcing positive attitudes and not putting lives at risk.
“Parents should not for example allow their sons to take their cars if they do not have valid driving licences,” he said.
Police in Kuwait have often had to deal with adolescents engaged in seeking the admiration and mobile numbers of girls in front of their schools.
Last year, three teenagers had their heads shaved off by the police after they were caught using a loudspeaker to recite love verses and give their mobile numbers to girls leaving their high school.
According to Al Anba daily, the three youngsters parked their car near the school and sought the attention of the girls by using a loudspeaker to shower them with expressions of love and flirtatious messages. In the process, they gave their phone numbers in the hope that some of the girls would call them and start a relationship with them.
However, a two-man patrol heard the shouting and apprehended the youngsters after they discovered their trick. A quick security check revealed that the driver was underage and did not have a driving licence.
The police station chief in Al Jahra, 32km northwest of Kuwait City, ordered that their heads be shaved off before further action was taken.
