Mobile police station returns to Al Nahda, Sharjah permanently

Sharjah: Sharjah Police’s pilot mobile station in Al Nahda is proving to be a huge success.

Colonel Yousef Obaid bin Harmoul, Director of the Comprehensive Police Centres Department, told Gulf News in exclusive interview that the station is being approached by people round the clock to make complaints and give their notices.

The project was launched at the beginning of 2019 under the Safe Neighbourhoods initiative. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was moved to Wasit police station. In December last year, the station returned to Al Nahda but now it will stay there permanently due to the residents’ need.

Sharjah’s Al Nahda has not recorded any serious crimes as the police could act swiftly on complaints, foil a number of thefts and even arrested a man wanted by security agencies over a financial case. He said traffic patrols, foot patrol and scooter patrols have also been intensified in the area to enhance security with cameras being connected with the police operation room. A Crime Preventive Team has also been doing the rounds to zero in on suspects and curb the crime rate.

The community can now feel the difference and is extremely grateful to the police. People from different nationalities recently visited the station to thank police as for making the place safe and some of them posted on social media to express their grateful to Sharjah Police for their efforts.

More mobile stations will be launched in select zones of the city to ensure greater safety. The next area for the launch of the mobile station will be announced by the police shortly.

Col. Bin Harmoul said that police asked all buildings [residential and commercial] in Al Nahda to install CCTVs to help them identify suspects in case of any crime.

In one incident, police move quickly after receiving a complaint from a woman, who reported that a man was harassing her. Police arrested the suspect who denied the incident. Then police and public prosecution referred to the camera footage, which clearly showed the woman’s statement was correct.

Sharjah Police adapted new a system — termed as a ‘suspicious system’ — to track suspects. The system aims to build a database about suspicious people found on the road after midnight. In case of a crime occurs, it helps police to retrieve that data about people in the scene at that time who might be connected to the crime.

On the sides of the police station, there are QR codes posted on the window and written on it in Arabic and English ‘scan here’. After scanning the app will show the customer wide range of Sharjah Police smart services, which help and guide the customer to choose his options. More than 100 scans have been done by residents without referred to the police.

Col. Bin Harmoul advised owner of shops and companies to never leave their cash inside their premises and deposit them in the bank to avoid any theft.

The total number of violations issued at the mobile police station from December 15, 2020 until February 7, 2021 is 34. Incidents varied between driving during night without using lights, using mobile phone while driving a vehicle, lack of validity of vehicle lighting, failure of vehicle drivers to adhere to traffic signs and instructions, pedestrians crossing the road from places not designated for them, and other traffic offences.

A total of 10 criminal reports were referred from the mobile police station to the competent authorities for the same period. Cases included assaulting, theft and others.

People who lost their belongings found them in the mobile police station when they went there to report their missing items. These included passports, cash and jewellery.

An Arab man lost his bag containing his passport and official documents. He forgot it on the top of a car and then went to another place. Later, he remembered the bag but could not find it till he reached out to the police.