Naif Police Station. New life for an old fort

Naif Fort (the current Naif Police Station) is considered the first headquarters of Dubai Police. Earlier, the fort also included a jail, and was built in a commercially active and crowded area.

Despite the lack of facilities available at that time, the fort resembled a strong security building, as it also included the public prosecution and the court.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Thani Bin Galita, Director of Naif Police Station, all police officers - even those now retired - began their careers from Naif Police Station.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, ordered the renovation of Naif Police Station keeping the fort intact so as to retain the heritage feel.

The renovation began in 1994 with the planning of the station. Care was taken to keep the external structure similar to that of the old Naif fort.

The new Naif Police Station was inaugurated in 1997. Shaikh Mohammad also inaugurated Naif Museum and suggested that it include historical pieces, which show Naif Fort's history. He also wanted it to be open to visitors.

Lieutenant Colonel Bin Galita, says, "The area which is under the jurisdiction of Naif Police Station is four-and-a-half kilometres, divided to 13 sections. Naif Police Station got first place in decreasing the crime percentage by 54 per cent in 2005 from that of the previous year, in the area under its jurisdiction."

He added that Naif Police Station has developed in many fields and became the first among other police stations in implementing creative ideas.

"We were the first police station to have a bicycle team, which can easily get into narrow and crowded places such as Naif souq. We were also the first to think of using roller blades," he says.

The police station succeeded in decreasing the number of common crimes in the area.

"We prepared a strategy of combating crimes. The idea was to take five to six crimes which were high in the area and focus on them by preparing plans to overcome them and arrest suspects," says Lieutenant Colonel Bin Galita.

The department has also prepared programmes to combat begging, especially near mosques.

"We held a meeting with preachers and gave them cards with contact numbers so they can alert us whenever they came across people begging near mosques," he says.

Effective programme

He said another programme that proved effective was 'Communicating with the victim.'

One successful case was an accident victim who wanted about Dh7,000 compensation from an insurance company, and got Dh40,000, thanks to the 'Communicating with the victim' programme at Naif Police Station.

Abdullah Ahmad Saleem, from Bangladesh, had a run-over accident in 2004.

As a result, his hand was paralysed and he lost some fingers on his right hand.

Naif Police Station referred his case to the Public Prosecution, which in turn referred it to the court.

The court ordered the insurance company to compensate Abdullah Ahmad Saleem.

In April, Hassan Ali, police officer from the communicating with the victim programme, contacted the insurance company and followed up the case, and was successful in getting him Dh40,000 compensation.

Lieutenant Colonel Bin Galita says, "We have an inn-house for police officers which includes, a library, internet café, gym and a small corner for children. The purpose of the small corner is to entertain children there, while their parents complete procedures in the station," says Lieutenant Colonel Bin Galita.