24-hour hotline to report crimes

A new telephone service, named ‘Aman’ (security) has recently been introduced by the Abu Dhabi Police to help encourage nationals and residents report all crimes, according to a senior officer.

The service, which can be reached on toll free number 8002626, is available in three languages —Arabic, English and Urdu. While calls are automatically received, security details are registered. A team of experts, who can efficiently handle all reports in the said languages, is available round the clock, stated Col Dr Said Al Alawi, a consultant in the office of the Police Operations Directorate General.

Privacy is strictly observed and the personal information of the caller shall never be disclosed to any body. The initiative is aimed to curb crimes, and help nationals and residents be more cooperative in fighting crimes, Al Alawi said.

Meanwhile, Lt Col, Khalfan Said Al Nuaimi, Acting Director of the Operations Department, said that the Operations Room in Abu Dhabi received some 1,900,000 telephone calls last year. These included around 328,665 reports. Source

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New emergency digit number to inform officials on illegals

The Department of Following-up Illegals in the Federal Naturalisation and Residency Department (FNRD) will be soon setting up a new three-digit hot-line number to seek information from the public about the presence of illegals in the country.

Giving this information, Major Hilal Aida Al Mazrouei, Director of Department of Following-up Illegals, told Khaleej Times yesterday that the move is aimed at flushing out illegals staying in the country by receiving tip-offs from the public.

The number will be announced soon, he added.

"By setting up the three-digit hotline, we plan to enhance cooperation with the society wherein people could tip off officials about illegal workers or people who had 'absconded' from their sponsors," said Major Al Mazrouei.

He said the FNRD is now working to intensify inspections of companies, farms, buildings and labour accommodations in order to weed out illegals.

"Two teams of officers will be working in tandem. One will generate information and carry out investigations and the second will move to arrest the illegals," he said.

Regarding entering houses and farms, he said that the officers are not allowed to visit homes without the permission of the General Prosecution.

He, however, affirmed that companies can be inspected with the co-operation of the authorities concerned such as the Ministry of Labour and the Municipalities.

Many national and expatriate sponsors are wondering who will be held accountable in the case of detection of illegal workers or infiltrators.

"All sides are responsible and would be accountable under the law as we have recently arrested more than 40 housemaids who were illegally working and living in the same building. The building owner will appear before the General Prosecution Department for questioning," said Major Al Mazrouei.

"Furthermore, if no absconding report has been filed, the maids agency and the sponsor will be held accountable under the law and would face a fine of Dh50,000 in the case of hiring or sheltering an illegal and Dh100,000 for hiring or sheltering an infiltrator," he added.

As for illegals and infiltrators themselves, they will face a month in jail, subjected to eye-scan and deported with a ban on entry into the UAE. Source

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Food security in the country

The Federal National Council (FNC) discussed on Tuesday plans adopted by the Ministry of Economy to achieve food security in the country.

The house also debated amendments to three federal laws on commercial fraud, formation of the Federal Electricity and Water Authority and medical accountability.

Following debate with Minister of Economy Sultan Al Mansouri, members of the house unanimously passed amendments to the federal law no 17 of 2004 on commercial fraud. The executive regulations of the law will go into force by March 2009.

Members were divided over the law. Some called for immediate enforcement while others stood against it arguing that it would harm the interest of the country, citizen in favour of foreign investors.

Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for FNC Affairs, warned that non-enforcement of the law would invite a disaster though he called for implementing the legislation through logical and mature mechanisms.

He put the commercial fraud percentage at 80.

Speaking about food security, Al Mansouri said his ministry had backed strategies by the Ministry of Environment and Water for development of the agricultural sector and spurred the private sector to invest in the farming and poultry sectors.

''The ministry is conducting study for establishing foodstuff warehouses to supply the local market with its needs,''the minister disclosed.

He added that he would present the study to the house after six months.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Humaid Al Qattami unveiled that his ministry had taken a number of initiatives to engage the private health sector in some programmes dealing with diabetes and blood pressure.

He said that a series of legislations on pharmacological institutions and products had been prepared to cope with the latest developments in the health sector.

''A study on encouragement of the private investment in the health sector would be ready by October 2008,''he added. (WAM)

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Close watch on pvt security companies

The Ministry of Interior and police directorates are keeping a close watch on the activities of the private security companies in the country, Lieutenant-General Saif Abdullah Al Shafar, Under-Secretary of the ministry

In reply to a query regarding the recent discovery of three hidden cameras in ladies’ toilets at the Ministry of Environment and Water office in Dubai, Lt-Gen Al Shafar said yesterday: “This is the first time such an incident has happened in a government institution. The person involved has been found to be suffering from a psychological problem.”

However, he said, stringent measures would be taken to avoid similar incidents in the future. The private security companies were being trained to meet the standards set by the Ministry of Interior. The ministry had set some conditions the security companies had to comply with when applying for a licence, he said.

The Undersecretary confirmed that the security authorities across the country were keeping a watch on the performance of the security companies to ensure that these companies met the required performance level. Those found incompetent would not be allowed to continue work. Source

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International Security National Resilience Exhibition

Some 147 specialist companies from 20 countries will display a range of equipment and technology aimed at counter terrorism, intelligence and threat assessment, border and transport security, critical infrastructure protection, emergency preparedness, and crisis management and response, at the inaugural edition of ISNR Abu Dhabi, which takes place March 2 - 5, 2008.

ISNR (International Security National Resilience) will be held March 2 - 5, 2008 under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces.

The event is organized by Reed Exhibitions Middle East with the support of the UAE Ministry of Interior and will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The UAE?s Critical National Infrastructure Authority is the official sponsor of ISNR Abu Dhabi.

ISNR Abu Dhabi is the region?s very first show focused on homeland security and exhibitors at the event will seek to tap the AED 7.7 billion regional market for homeland security products and services, organisers said in a press release issued Wednesday.

Occupying 13,400 square metres of gross space, ISNR Abu Dhabi will feature four national pavilions from the US, the UK, Switzerland and Germany. Exhibitors from 16 other countries including the UAE, Bahrain, Lebanon, France, Bulgaria, Norway, Austria, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa, India and Singapore will also take part.

Over 8,000 trade visitors including officials from the interior and defense ministries from the region, staff involved in management of security and emergency planning for ports, airports, borders, urban transport systems and government facilities, and facilities directors are expected to attend.

Brigadier Matar Salem Bin Mesayed Al Neyadi, Chairman - ISNR Abu Dhabi Organizing Committee, said :?ISNR Abu Dhabi is the first event of its kind in the region and addresses the growing need for sophisticated equipment to counter international terrorism, protect national borders and build enough resilience to respond to disasters, whether natural or the result of terrorist action?.

The UAE Ministry of Interior has invited official delegations from 33 countries to attend the show.

?ISNR Abu Dhabi was conceived to provide the market in the region exposure to the latest products, services and technologies in the homeland security domain and we are very pleased to present the inaugural edition of the show to the market,? said Frederic Theux, President of Reed Exhibitions Middle East. Reed Exhibitions is a world leader in creating high profile, targeted, industry events.

Theux added that governments in the region were investing heavily to counter international terrorism, secure infrastructure and borders and build disaster resilience.

According to a study commissioned by Reed the Middle East?s security market will be worth over AED 7.7 billion this year and will grow over 50 percent to reach AED 11.8 billion in 2013. In 1998 security spending in the region was just over AED 2.9 billion.

Alongside the exhibition, the ISNR Abu Dhabi Conference is also being organised on March 2nd by the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis (INEGMA), in close cooperation with UAE?s Ministry of Interior and Reed Exhibitions Middle East.

Top police and security officials from the UAE, the UK, France, Germany, the US, and Canada will share their knowledge, experience and insights on combating threats to international security and national resilience.

The ISNR Conference is expected to be attended by up to 300 delegates and more than 100 managers of industrial and security companies.

Among the leading speakers at the ISNR Abu Dhabi Conference are Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, John McCarthy, Executive Manager for Operations for the UAE?s Critical Infrastructure Authority, Tarique Gaffur from the London Metropolitan Police, Colonel Peter Sehr from the German Federal Police and Emile Perez from the French police.

In addition, Raphael Perl from the Organization for Security & Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Bob Evans from the South Wales Police and Ransom Avilla, from the US Department of Homeland Security will also speak at the conference.

The ISNR Conference offers participants a unique opportunity to benefit from a comprehensive, high-level, industry platform that brings together stakeholders from the government, public sector, police and emergency response, transport and critical national infrastructure protection and commercial and private security domains.

ISNR Abu Dhabi is the second leg in the ISNR series and follows ISNR London held 2-5 December 2007 at the National Hall, Olympia, London. ISNR Abu Dhabi incorporates the former Security and Safety Middle East, Infosecurity and APTS (Airport, Port & Transport Security) Middle East exhibitions.(WAM)

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New system to detect substances through X-rays in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Police has entered into a unique research partnership with Identification Beams Systems Company (IBS), developer of the fourth generation of Sentinel system for handbags inspection and screening at security gates.

The system is the most sophisticated in the world in detecting dangerous and hazardous substances through x-rays.

According to Colonel Mohammed Al Kamali, Director of Privatisation and Financial Investment, the partnership falls in line with the directives of Minister of Interior Lt-Gen. Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan for beefing up security measures and plugging loopholes for any possible attempts of smuggling or infiltration into the country. Source

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