UAE | Traffic and Transport
Special security system to monitor service
Officials of new department are trained to deal with any situation and have studied other Metro systems extensively
- By Siham Al Najami, Staff Reporter
- Published: 22:57 September 10, 2009
- Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
- A passenger gets assistance from a Metro official at a station on Thursday. The security system on the service is equipped to deal with any situation and banks on modern technology.
Dubai: A Public Transport Security Department has been set up under the directions of Chief of Dubai Police to regulate and maintain security and safety, with Dubai Metro being the first transportation system with a holistic security scheme.
Colonel Abdullah Al Gaithi, Acting Director of the Protective and Security Department of Dubai Police and recently appointed Director of the Public Transport Security Department, said the idea to formulate this department was conceived in early 2008 on the directives of Lieutenant-General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Chief of Dubai Police.
Five police officers were selected to undergo a thorough study to implement security plans for the Metro, he said while adding that they travelled to several countries to learn from their experience in running metros.
"The officers visited a number of countries to learn and benefit from their expertise such as UK, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and France. Basically, to get a hands-on experience and to learn about the procedures adopted to ensure the safety of Metros, trains and transportation system," he said.
This was followed by forming a department responsible to ensure Metro safety which is part of the Public Transport Security Department. The department is specialised in all types of transportation systems operating in Dubai such as trains, buses, water taxis, and taxis.
"For us the Singaporean Metro transportation system was the closest to our model in a sense they have the same weather, they are very well-advanced in the usage of technology. Besides, Singapore started from where the others ended - they took ideas from France and UK and built on it," he said.
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According to him, the second stage involved coordination among all parties involved in securing the safety of the Metro such as the Roads and Transport Authority, Civil Defence, and Rescue Department of Dubai Police, ambulance services centre, sniffer dogs, anti-explosive department, and the protection for high profile individuals section.
The third stage involved the recruitment of personnel, initially 197 who underwent six months of preliminarily training. This was followed by another 207 and 260, respectively. These individuals were later trained in specialised fields, who are responsible for supervising the safety of stations, establishments related to the Metro and dealing with the public.
"Around 600 individuals were recruited and by the end of 2009 we will recruit an additional 200 individuals to reach the target of 800 individuals," he said.
The individuals underwent additional specialised workshops such as how to apprehend individuals, self-defence, identifying specious items or individuals, controlling any disturbances or riots, and in general dealing with individuals.
"They are not police officers but they will be wearing the same costume as police officers. We are now planning to give them a designation that separates them from police officers," he said.
The newly appointed staff are provided with accommodation, offices for the department, cars and buses for transportation. There will be also be patrol units to monitor specific areas.
Among their duties are to assist RTA staff members and operators of the Metro, along with prohibiting unwanted labourers from sheltering and walking around in the station.
"We have trained a number of these individuals on how to deal with police dogs and we have bought 15 trained dogs for identifying explosives, drugs and suspicious items," he said.
According to him, "fines will not be issued from our side; it's within the RTA's staff responsibility. However, if individuals are not following instructions and are causing disturbance, the security official has the right to intervene in this case."
Future plans involve having female police officers in the Metro.
Currently, there are around 3,000 surveillance cameras that are connected to the Metro stations and operations room of Dubai Police.
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