Makkah tops in expat crime

Riyadh: A study has shown there has been a substantial increase in crime involving foreigners.

The study, carried out by security experts under the directives of Interior Minister Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, says that the introduction of a fingerprint system for foreigners, who either leave or are deported from the kingdom, came too late.

"Had it been implemented earlier, it would have been helpful in reducing the crime rate to a great extent and preventing the return of those with criminal backgrounds to the kingdom to engage in their illegal activities," the report said.

Gulf News learnt from the report that Makkah Province had the highest crime rate committed by foreigners, with 47.4 per cent. Riyadh Province was next with 28 per cent and the northern Al Jauf Province was bottom of the list. The report showed that Yemenis came first in the list of expatriates committing crimes, with a percentage of 21.09.

They were followed by Pakistanis (18.6 per cent), Indians (10.2 per cent), Bangladeshis (9.7 per cent), Egyptians (4.6 per cent), Sudanese (4.5 per cent), and Indonesians (3.2 per cent). Nationals from Syria, Ethiopia and the Philippines came next.

Most of the crimes registered were drug related, theft came second and infiltration third. The use of alcohol was fourth, followed by forgery of residence permits and immoral acts. The main reasons people committed crime were because they mixed with criminals themselves or wanted to damage the reputation of their sponsor.

The study recommended that with the introduction of fingerprinting a foreigner who leaves the kingdom should be given a certificate from his sponsor. This would show that his conduct was good during the time he worked for him together with a no-objection certificate to facilitate coming back to the kingdom on other employment visas in the future.

"This should also be applicable in the case of domestic workers, including maids, drivers and guards," the report said, adding this measure would help stop workers fleeing from their sponsors, which is a daily occurrence in the kingdom.