• Home

Drills planned to boost security

ABU DHABI - The Ministry of Interior's Central Operations Department (COD) has embarked on operational plans to counter any emergencies threatening national security and stability, according to a senior official.

Staff Brigadier Saif Khamis Mattar Al Kaabi, Director of the COD, said that internal security exercises were being planned to upgrade the efficiency and performance of security agencies to cope with any changes, developments or situations that could pose a threat to the country's security.

The exercises also aim at enhancing coordination and cooperation between various law-enforcement bodies such as police and other security agencies in the country in order to identify and develop positive aspects of such drills and remove any drawbacks.

"Through these drills, we also try to find solutions to remove drawbacks, if any," Brig. Kaabi stated, adding that special assessment committees have been formed by the ministry to ensure accuracy and safety of the procedures involved in dealing with presumed security situations.

"The committees are also charged with assessing the level of coordination and cooperation between the agencies taking part in such drills. All general police directorates, commands, logistics and support units in addition to other agencies take part in these exercises as part of pre-designed internal security plans.

There are two types of exercises. The first is pre-planned exercises which are conducted through coordination between commands and general police directorates following setting of the timing, location and type of each drill.

The second is surprise drills which are conducted according to instructions which specify type, timing and location of the exercise and the agency that conducts it.

For both types of the exercises, the COD develops scenarios for security situations and supervises their conduction.

Speaking about the duties and responsibilities of the department which was established in 1995, Brig. Kaabi said: "In addition to preparing and overseeing security exercises, the department supervises operations rooms at general directorates of police, collects and maintains data used in operations, assesses and lists human resources at all the ministry's units and draws plans for operations to counter acts that could breach internal security, in cooperation with other departments concerned in the Ministry of Interior."

The director of the Central Operations Department praised the continued cooperation and coordination with the Armed Forces GHQ which covers all security and operational fields, pointing out to the joint excerise "Hasadul Haq" which is planned and held every year by the Ministry of Interior and the Armed Forces GHQ.

This drill is well-planned and is conducted to check the prepardness of agencies concerned for countering any crises or emergency like situations which might threaten the security and stability of the country. This year, an internal security exercise for commands will be conducted in cooperation with the Armed Forces and other ministries by end of the year.

"This exercises aims at ensuring effective security plans and training general directorates of police and their commands on this type of drills. It also aims to protect national gains against any threats," Brig. Kaabi stated.

• UAE