Dubai: Dubai Police have stepped up their campaign against begging through social awareness, more patrols and with the help of security cameras, ahead of the month of Ramadan, the Criminal Investigation Department has announced. Ramadan is likely to start in the third week of July. The number of beggars usually increase during the month when Muslims fast and indulge in piety and give alms and donations to the needy.
Brigadier Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Director of CID, said the department is cooperating with other bodies to end the menace of begging, which increases considerably during Ramadan and other religious occasions.
Some people exploit the religious and charitable sentiments of others to make some money and abuse the generosity of Emiratis and residents during Ramadan, he said.
Brig Al Mansouri urged all members of the society not to have any pity on beggars and to report them to the authorities as the so-called beggars take people’s money illegally. The poor in the UAE receive help from many charitable organisations if they really need financial assistance. Most of the beggars are anti-social elements, illegal workers and criminals and they should not be encouraged, he said.
“Not only do they beg, they also enter houses with the aim to rob them. They check the houses and find out if the inhabitants were out by knocking on doors and pretending that they are beggars,” he said.
Last year, the anti-begging campaign resulted in the arrest of 185 beggars during Ramadan, while 251 were arrested in Ramadan 2010. The drop was attributed to the success of the anti-begging campaign which was launched last year.
Brig Al Mansouri urged the public to cooperate with the police and report any suspicious activity either through Dubai Police’s website www.dubaipolice.gov.ae or the hotline 800CID (800423).
