Cases, where one party is a child, will be carried out by specialised investigators.- Supplied photo
Dubai - These rooms will also ensure privacy for children, when being questioned by experts.
Published: Tue 27 Mar 2018, 12:00 AM
Last updated: Tue 27 Mar 2018, 8:56 AM
The Dubai Police have launched special interrogation rooms for children outside of the police station setting.
As per the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to bring happiness to all segments of the society, Major-General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, commander-in-chief of the Dubai Police, launched the children investigation room outside the police stations "in hotels, commercial centres and public places".
Supplied photo
This is a first-of-its-kind initiative that aims for the well being of children and will deal with them in a special manner while taking the humanitarian and social situations into consideration. These rooms will also ensure privacy for children, when being interrogated by experts, investigators, and social and psychological specialists.
Maj-Gen Al Marri inaugurated the special interrogation rooms for children in Dubai, in the presence of Major-General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, assistant commander-in-chief of criminal investigation affairs and directors of all police stations.
The new special rooms were inaugurated at different locations - IMG at the Mall of the Emirates in Al Barsha, Hyatt Park Hotel and Women Association in Al Hamryah, Hyatt Regency Dubai and Radisson Blu Hotel in Dubai Deira Creek, Dubai Centre for the People of Determination in Al Qusais police station jurisdiction, Bin Sougat Centre and Ayan Equestrian Club in Al Rashdiya Police Station jurisdiction, and Dubai Women's Association in Hatta.
Smart tests
Maj-Gen Al Marri was briefed on the mechanisms of obtaining scientific testimonies from children in a manner that is sensitive to their age. The specialists will rely on intelligent tests for hearing children, such as the Raven test for children who belong to the five to 12 year age group. The mental process of the child through an interactive programme gives accurate results of his or her awareness of the events and their narratives. Beta testing is ongoing for the 12-19 age group, which helps specialists measure the child's perception.
Complete privacy
Maj-Gen Al Marri praised the efforts of the police station directors to launch the special initiative that respects humanitarian and social situations. He said the initiative achieves the strategic goal of the Dubai Police and the aspirations of the leadership in providing quality services to the members of the community of all categories in an innovative and qualitative manner.
A qualitative initiative
Maj-Gen Al Mansouri said the special interrogation rooms are a qualitative initiative for children's benefit. It is in an easy way that takes into account the privacy of the child and their families without having to go to police stations. He stressed the Dubai Police have arranged the necessary technology for specialised investigators to deal with children in a professional way.
He said that there are volunteer staff to provide support at all centres with great secrecy. He praised the cooperation of the private sector in providing services to the members of the community."
An initiative to applaud
Brigadier Ahmed Bin Ghalaita, director of Al Refa'a police station, said the initiative is an innovative idea to deal with issues in situations where children are the victims.
"The initiative has two aspects. By taking kids to child-friendly interrogation rooms with their parents, the initial barrier of fear is broken and they will be able to speak comfortably. These places are also equipped with tools, pictures and electronic programmes to help get children's statements as accurately as possible.
"The second part of the initiative is that children will speak to specialised officers who are trained to deal with them. Cases, where one party is a child, will be carried out by these specialised investigators. The Dubai Police have a team of specialists dealing with and investigating children," he said.
"We hope that the initiative will be a new addition to policing and to the society."
Special interrogation rooms for children are located at
>IMG at the Mall of the Emirates - Al Barsha
>Hyatt Park Hotel and Women Association - Al Hamriyah
>Hyatt Regency Dubai, Radisson Blu Hotel - Dubai Deira Creek
>Dubai Centre for the People of Determination - Al Qusais
>Bin Sougat Centre and Ayan Equestrian Club - Al Rashdiya
>Dubai Women's Association - Hatta
amira@khaleejtimes.com
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