Sharjah: In a novel initiative to assist people taking the Al Bata’h road which cuts through the desert to different parts of Sharjah, the Sharjah Police have launched the ‘Aman Ya Beladi’ police unit.

The special police unit will rush to the aid of families and motorists in case of any emergencies and has been entrusted the protection of travellers from theft or assault on the roads or in the desert, an official at Sharjah Police told Gulf News on Thursday.

The special unit was launched earlier this month. Many senior officials of Sharjah Police attended the ceremony.

Aman Ya Beladi units have been provided with quad bikes and will carry out patrol duties besides operating workshops on wheels with trained technicians.

A full-fledged police station will be on call round the clock and Sharjah Police are to make an announcement in this regard in the coming few days. In case of any emergency, people travelling via Sharjah-Al Bata’ah road can call up the special unit on 050-9692000 by night or day.

The new unit was announced as part of National Day celebrations in Sharjah, officials said.

Sharjah Police on Sunday launched a new awareness campaign based on the theme ‘a safe and enjoyable winter in Sharjah’ for desert visitors.

The campaign focuses on environmental awareness among people visiting desert areas in Sharjah.

The initiatives are part of the Ministry of Interior’s strategy to prevent and combat crime and to strengthen the public’s trust in security institutions.

Sharjah Police have moved to intensify their presence in desert areas given a big increase in the number of visitors seeking leisure getaways far from the hustle and bustle of the city. Police have been distributing brochures and booklets to people telling them how to ensure a safe stay during desert camps and also urged motorists not to hesitate to contact police if they needed any help.

The public can call the following numbers to request police assistance:

Sharjah Police: 065632222

Eastern Region Police Department: 092370000

Central Region Police Department: 068822222