Street vending crackdown focuses on public safety

Al Ain: The civic administration here launched a drive against street vendors yesterday seizing merchandise including clothes and electronic items.

The drive followed a warning to vendors to stop hawking their wares on streets.

Street vending, a popular mode of trade in many cities, is prohibited in this oasis city. However, the trend has lately been growing.

Ahmad Al Neyadi, head of Al Ain Municipality's Public Health Department, said street vending was also contributing to growth of some criminal activities.

He said some unwary residents were inviting these vendors home leading to problems.

Al Neyadi asked people to stop dealing with street vendors and help the authorities take care of public safety.

Vendors who failed to stop illegal activities would face penalties, he said. The drive, he said, aims at protecting the residents from criminal activities and commercial fraud.

Al Neyadi said the municipality in collaboration with the police are planning citywide campaigns to catch the violators.

The official said sponsors of people caught violating the law would also face legal action.

He said the vendors have been selling goods such as electrical appliances, electronics items and clothes of unknown origin and quality. The merchandise also included used and stolen items. They were also involved in various kinds of commercial fraud.

The administration has been handing over large quantity of materials seized from illegal vendors to the UAE Red Crescent Authority. Those suspected of violating the law have been handed over to municipal prosecutors for legal action.

Al Neyadi highlighted the need for public cooperation to curb the problem.

He also sought cooperation of various government departments in creating public awareness and community policing the campaign's effectiveness.