Keep an eye on kids' behaviour, warns cop

DUBAI - The Dubai Police have asked parents to keep an eye on their teenaged children and control their wards' behaviour in public lest they are hauled up for juvenile delinquency, and the parents made to attend to police notification.

By A Staff Reporter

Published: Wed 3 Aug 2005, 11:12 PM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 7:09 PM

The warning comes in the wake of increasing complaints from shopkeepers and the general public about harassment by teenagers having scant respect for the law of the land.

Brigadier Khamis Matar Al Muzainah, Director of the General Department of Criminal Investigation, who gave the call to the parents, said the police would take legal action against teenagers who misbehave in public, besides asking the parents to visit the police station to be notified about their ward's behaviour.

"Our aim is to prevent the problem from getting aggravated, particularly during the summer vacations, when these kids hang around shopping malls till late in the night in the absence of any other fruitful activity," he said, adding that the police had received a number of complaints about teenagers assaulting shoppers and shop-keepers, and damaging others properties.

Brig. Al Muzainah asked parents to keep close tabs on youngsters in their homes, and to provide them with a healthy atmosphere.

"Parents should also involve their youngsters in summer activities since such irresponsible behaviour is the result of idling during summer vacation," he said.

"Unfortunately, a large number of youngsters spend their time in shopping malls till late in the night, and this can lead to juvenile delinquency if they indulge in acts which are in violation of the country's laws and regulations," he said.

Such behaviour, he said, would lead to the intervention of the security agencies regardless of the age of the kids, and this is not healthy for their future. "Police will take different measures and will follow different means to prevent youngsters from getting into such behaviour which affects others," he said.

Pointing out to the efficacy of summer activities, he said : "Apart from keeping them occupied during the free time, summer activities have proved to be successful in instilling positive attitudes and values among the youths, like punctuality and respect for work," Brig. Al Muzainah said.