Wife-beating a common complaint

Dubai: Wife-beating was the most common crime dealt with by Dubai Police's family security department last year.

The department dealt with a total of 455 cases related to various family problems.

Lt Col Arif Baqer, director of the family security department, said the department dealt with 126 cases of wife beating.

He said the department also dealt with 113 cases of disputes among spouses, 35 swearing cases, 50 cases involving psychological and social counselling, 26 disputes between parents and children above 18 years, 18 cases of nuisance, 17 cases of disputes over child custody and 8 cases of psychological and social threats, such as threats of divorce.

The department also dealt with 8 cases of husbands not returning home, 6 cases of causing damage at home, 3 case of attempted suicide by consuming large amount of medicines and other issues.

Lt Col Baqer said last year the department dealt with 248 cases of Emiratis, followed by 67 cases of Arab nationals, 6 cases of GCC nationals, 13 cases of Africans, 103 cases of Asians, 22 cases of Europeans, 6 cases of Americans, one case of an Australian and 4 cases of people who did not carry identification papers.

He said in the last six months of this year, the department dealt with 165 cases of Emiratis, 49 cases of Arab nationals, 12 cases of Europeans, 7 of GCC nationals, 7 of Africans, 4 of people who did not carry identification papers, 2 of Americans and one of an Australian.

"The department dealt with 17 cases of juveniles last year. In the last six months, the department dealt with 24 cases of juveniles from various nationalities," Lt Cl Baqer said.