Dubai Police launch anti-begging drive

The Dubai Police launched an anti-begging campaign on Sunday and assigned toll-free number 800243 to receive complaints from the public round-the-clock.

Deputy Commander-in-Chief Major-General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina told a Press conference that the begging phenomenon was of a minor nature in the UAE compared to other Arab countries. He said that beggars headed to the UAE on religious occasions and during festivals.

The authorities have become more strict in issuing visas and the police penalise the institutions which facilitate their visit, specially if institutions are found aware of their nature of work, he added.

He said that the beggars try to exploit people by gaining their sympathy on the roads, near shopping malls, commercial centres and mosques and in front of villas.

Brigadier Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Director of the General Department of Criminal Investigation, said that as per instruction of Lt.-Gen. Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police, 60 police patrols will be deployed in areas where beggars gather, specially near mosques and shopping malls and residential areas.

He said some of them intend to steal from houses.

Colonel Mohammed Rashid Al Muheiri, Director of the General Department of Tourism Security, said that the police arrested 714 people of various nationalities in 2010 for begging and their number dropped to 657 in 2011.

He called on the public to donate money to charity associations who will give it to people those are really in need of help.

He said that the anti-begging campaign will also include spreading awareness through media, and the police will give details of the arrests during the campaign.

He said that various government departments are participating in the anti-begging campaign, including the Dubai Public Prosecution, the Dubai Municipality, the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department and Awqaf.

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