Dubai Police launches annual anti-begging campaign

DUBAI: The Dubai Police has launched its annual anti-begging campaign to curb beggary, raise awareness of its dangers, and guide community members to official and reliable channels for donation.

Under the slogan ‘Begging is a Wrong Concept of Compassion’, the campaign was launched in cooperation with partners, including the Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, and the Dubai Municipality.

During a press conference held at the Dubai Police General Headquarters, Brigadier Saeed Suhail Al Ayali, Deputy Director of the General Department of Criminal Investigation for Administration and Control Affairs, stressed that beggary is an anti-civilisational phenomenon infiltrating society and usually increases during the holy month of Ramadan.

He urged people not to be deceived by beggars as begging can lead to other crimes such as burglary and exploiting children, the elderly and people of determination to raise money illegally.

Brig. Al Ayali said that the campaign neither contradicts the true values of Islam nor the generosity of the UAE nation. However, it ensures aid and assistance reach the rightful people.

Reporting Channels

Colonel Ali Salem Saeed Al Shamsi, Director of the Anti-Infiltration Department at the General Department of Criminal Investigation, confirmed that the annual anti-beggary campaigns achieve positive results yearly due to the increased awareness in the community about the dangers of dealing with beggars.

He urged the public to report beggars through official channels, including Dubai Police’s call centre (901) and the ‘Police Eye’ service available on the Dubai Police smart app or via the E-crime platform to report e-begging.

604 Beggars Arrested in Ramadan 2022

Al Shamsi revealed that 604 beggars were arrested during last year’s anti-begging campaign during Ramadan, including 382 beggars and 222 street peddlers. He also indicated that the Dubai Police received 2,235 reports by public members related to beggary, including 1,956 reports through the (901) call centre and 279 via the ‘Police Eye’ service.

He noted that Dubai Police, in cooperation with partners, work tirelessly to address this negative phenomenon, especially in areas frequented by beggars during the holy month of Ramadan, such as mosques, markets, residential neighbourhoods, Ramadan tents, and parking lots.

Community Policing

Brigadier Marwan Abdul Karim Julfar, director of the General Department of Punitive and Correctional Establishments, said the public is a crucial partner to the success of the annual anti-begging campaigns, and the Dubai Police and its partners work tirelessly to address this phenomenon.

“Therefore, the Dubai Police urges the public to refrain from dealing with beggars and to give their donations to official charitable associations and institutions in the country,” he continued.

Strict Measures

Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Ateeq, from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, explained that they had taken strict measures and set guidelines and conditions for tourism companies to ensure compliance in curbing this negative phenomenon.

Charitable Societies

Mr Abdullah Al Ali, from the Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department, highlighted the importance of official and reliable channels for donation, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, and urged members of the public and philanthropists to donate through donation boxes and verified electronic channels such as smart applications, websites, and text messages.