Cops on the Net

The Dubai police department are in step with today's techno-savvy world with their official website: www.dubaipolice.gov.ae , launched in 1999. Police cars can be spotted in the city with the address.

The site aims to provide information to the public and police counterparts around the world who may be interested in acquiring details on the department. The website can be viewed either in Arabic or English.

The site comprises six primary sections. Broadly, these provide information about the organisation, the services offered, the developments over the recent years and different modes of communication with them. One can learn about the operations room which is the central network system for the department to carry out its operations successfully.

This round-the-clock-service receives all the calls and dispatches police aid where it is required. A special Traffic Department section presents details on the different types of traffic fines that a driver can receive.

There is also a page dedicated to traffic regulations that have been introduced in the city and their importance, e.g. ban on children sitting in the front seat and in the driver's lap because it is dangerous.

Ali Qassim, Head of the Information Centre at Dubai Police, stated, "We have been submitting proposals to the Police Commander and Chief ever since Etisalat launched their Internet service. It was only in 1999 that the proposals were accepted and the Dubai Police Research and Studies Centre were able to translate the plans into action."

He added that the website is regularly updated but the Arabic section is done more often than the English one. The public can also utilise the online facilities the website offers. One can file an official complaint or report a crime by filling out a simple form on the Internet.

If a person wishes to make a suggestion, they can do so by mailing the police department at suggestion@dubaipolice.gov.ae. According to Qassim, the website is checked regularly by the Total Quality Department.