Dubai: More than 300 cases have been handled by Dubai’s Neighbourhood Watch Police since community officers hit the streets three months ago.
The service was introduced as a way to stop minor problems — such as people playing loud music — getting out of hand. The scheme currently covers three areas in Dubai, but is set to be rolled out across the city.
Neighbourhood officers, who are well-versed in Arabic, English and Urdu, operate round the clock in three shifts. They attend to problems wearing the national dress and not police uniforms.
“Nine Emirati police personnel who were selected carefully from the force and who are well qualified and efficient officers are working in Al Muraqabat, Al Rashidiya and Bur Dubai,” Colonel Ahmad Thani Bin Galita, director of the Crime Prevention Department at Dubai Police’s Criminal Investigation Department, said.
He said the community policing idea came from Lieutenant-General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Chief of Dubai Police, after the Arab Spring which hit most Arab countries.
“Lt Gen Dahi wanted the police to be close to people and to listen to their issues and problems and to sort them out in order to prevent any unexpected problems that may occur,” he said. “If a neighbour plays very loud music or if you see an exposed live wire or witness neighbours having a fight and you want order restored you can call the police toll-free number 800243.”
Colonel Bin Galita, told Gulf News the scheme had so far handled 150 cases in Al Rashidiya, 60 cases in Al Muraqabat and 101 cases in the Bur Dubai area.
He said Neighbourhood Watch Police officers had also dealt with another 40 incidents, including arresting illegal residents and wanted people.
“These policemen may be law enforcers but they can also be your friend. If you’re having some kind of problem with your water or electricity or some issue with the municipality or etisalat, the police will help follow it up to make sure it’s addressed properly.”
He said that a few days ago residents at International City told police a mentally ill woman was living alone in abandoned premises.
“Neighbourhood Police went to the place and found the woman had no one to support her. The case was transferred to the human rights department to follow up and to address the woman’s issues,” he said.
“The officers are on patrol around-the-clock in community police squad cars or walking and talking with residents and tackling social issues, such as resolving a street altercation or family problems,” he said.
Street fight
He said last week police spotted a man and woman fighting in the street.
“The police talked to them and it turned out they were husband and wife. The police helped them to solve their problem,” he said.
Colonel Bin Galita said the idea was first tried out for six months in 2012 in Al Rashidiya. The programme is credited with helping push the crime rate down by about 6 per cent and thefts by 2 per cent from the same period in the previous year, said Col Bin Galita.
The programme highlights the pattern by which communities get the support they need to keep crime at bay and curb disturbances.
“The aim of this programme is to prevent as much crime as possible. There is no better way to do this than by addressing problems while they are still small, before they turn into disasters,” he said.
“Police also visited 155 schools at the beginning of the school year to make sure cashiers lock safes properly to avoid thefts. Community officers meets prominent figures of the district to raise awareness about issues such as drug abuse or domestic violence and sexual harassment. They meet students to raise awareness against bullying,” he said
“When there’s a complaint they cannot address they return to the station to place the complaint in a box seen only by the station’s chief, who will then make sure it is addressed by concerned parties.”
He said the neighbourhood police bring people together and help the public overcome their fear of being the victims of crime.
He said the police are also monitoring abandoned houses and bachelor accommodation and keeping an eye out for any suspicious actions in across neighbourhoods.
