Ports Police Station reviews performance

Dubai: The Ports Police Station's security teams arrested 122 offenders for residency and work law violations last year, a senior police official said.

Colonel Mohammad Jasim Al Za'abi, Director of the Ports Police Station, announced the figure while chairing this year's first meeting of the police council for ports service.

Al Za'abi reviewed the performance of the station's security teams. According to police statistics, the teams seized 360 vehicles in 2008 compared to 166 vehicles in 2007. The teams were also able to eliminate pick-pocketing in abras and on the open beaches. The teams did not report any pick-pocketing cases last year, compared to two cases in 2007, eight cases in 2006 and five cases in 2005.

The meeting also reviewed the decisions and recommendations of the previous meeting and the mechanisms put in place as a result of those decisions. The strategic plan of the Ports Police Station, which includes security, social, service and development aspects, was also discussed.

Al Za'abi said the council meetings were intended to boost coordination and partnership between various government and private bodies and the bodies working at sea to prevent and respond to disasters, and catch offenders and criminals.

He said the country's beaches had become one of the main destinations for tourists. This, together with the fact that many oil tankers and trading ships sail in the waters, meant it was necessary to intensify monitoring efforts for the protection of tourists and sea life.