Dubai Police Force

Dubai Police Force
The Dubai Police logo.
Headquarters	Al Towar, Dubai
Police Chief	Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim
Membership	15'000
Coverage	4,114 square kilometres, 1,321,453 people
Founded	June 1, 1956

The Dubai Police Force is the 15,000 strong police force for the city of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. They come under the jurisdiction of the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE (who in turn is the ruler of Dubai), and they cover an area of 4,114 square kilometres and a population of 1,321,453 people.

History

The Dubai Police force was founded on June 1, 1956 in Naif (a locality in the Deira side of Dubai, with the first police station being known as 'Naif Fort') with only 29 members. The size of the force increased gradually, to 105 in 1960 and to 430 by 1967. In 1973, the force moved its headquarters to their current location of Al Towar, on Al Etihad Street in Dubai. At present, a further move is being planned to a newly constructed headquarters, again in Deira.

The Dubai Police force strives to be 'most progressive' of all Arabic police forces and aims for high education standards amongst its personnel. The force was the first to use many new law enforcement techniques, including electronic finger printing and DNA testing. The force was also the first to use GPS systems to locate stolen vehicles. In addition, the force was the first to create a Human Rights Department, as well as the first to employ a Community Policing program.

The new headquarters for the Dubai police is planned to be constructed in Deira, the premises were designed with several considerations in mind. As well as making easy access for both officers and members of the public a priority, the new design aims to separate the departments into different areas. The building is also to feature a central, multi-level internal space, and is designed to fit in with the developing architecture of surrounding Dubai, the Dubai police force describe it as a 'distinguished constructional conception'.

Organization

A Dubai Police car

The Dubai police force operates under a General Commander and his deputy, who in turn work under the Police Chief and his own deputy. The General Commander forms part of an organizational office which, with a Decision Making Support Centre, organises fifteen separate departments:

The General Department of Operations

This is the heart of the Dubai Police force. Round the clock telephone lines help to electronically control all patrols from this department, with 2,000 land lines and 178 fax machines, and utilising wireless equipment to locate both car and foot patrols. The department also coordinates all emergency responses as well as search and rescue operations on land and sea.

The General Department of E-Services

This department is another integral part of the police force, as well as being the most recent department to be created. It was established in 2001 as part of the aims of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, to form a totally electronic government.

The General Department of Criminal Investigation

This is the primary crime fighting department of the Dubai Police, its objectives are laid out by as follows:

1. Dealing with daily, small time crimes (quarrels, swearing, defamation.. etc.).
2. Dealing with crimes of a dangerous nature, such as murder, rape, armed robbery, kidnapping, etc.
3. Dealing with organized crime (drugs trafficking, money laundering, internationally wanted criminals etc.)
4. Social services, such as lost property, things found, certificates of good conduct, licenses of all kinds etc.)
5. Employing scientific evidence (such as Forensic Medicine, fingerprints, documents, arsons, chemical analysis, firearms etc.)
6. Employing identity recognition means (such as fingerprints, the DNA, criminal records etc.)
7. Crime prevention methods (such guidance, directives, follow-up, statistical projections, periodicals etc)

Other departments

Other departments of the Dubai Police force include:

• General Department of Administrative Affairs
• General Department of Traffic
• General Department of Organisation, Protective Security and Emergency
• General Department of Finance
• General Department of Human Resources
• General Department of Services and Supplies
• General Department of Airports Security
• General Department of Punitive Establishment
• General Department of Forensic Science
• The Dubai Police Academy
• General Department of Community Services
• General Department of E-Services
• General Department of Total Quality

Police stations

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A Dubai Police Officer on duty

There are currently ten Dubai police stations in the city.

• Al Rifaa
  • This station was established in the 1970s to secure the Bur Dubai region. It has been reopened in different premises on two occasions, 1979 and 1992.
• Al Muraqqabat
  • this station was established in 1974.
• Al Rashidiyah
  • Al Rashidiyah was created in 1976 as part of Al Muraqqabat, however it became an independent station in 1984, and was moved to newer premises in 2000.
• Naif
  • The original headquarters of the Dubai Police force, Naif Fort was constructed in 1939, and was used as a prison until the founding of the force in 1956.
• Al Qusais
  • Al Qusais was founded in 1977 and moved to new premises in 1999.
• Hatta
  • This station was established in 1974, and also moved to new premises, this time in 1976.
• Nad Al Sheba
  • This station opened in 1994 in Zabeel, though subsequently moved.
• Jebel Ali
  • This station was built in 1971, and renovated in 2000.
• Ports
  • Ports police station was also built in 1971, and watches over the Rashid Port.
• Bur Dubai
  • This station was founded in 1979.

Uniform, equipment and vehicles

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A police car on Dubai's beaches

The standard uniform of the Dubai police officer is an olive green shirt with a red band running under the left arm and looped through the left epaulette, a dark green beret with a golden badge depicting the logo of the police force, olive green trousers and black boots. Alternatively, officers wear a light brown shirt and trousers, though the rest of the uniform remains the same. High ranking officers wear a combination cap and rank badges on the collar. In Dubai, the police officers are armed with semi-automatic hand guns.

The Dubai police vehicles are painted with a white and dark green colour scheme, with all blue emergency lights. Every Dubai police vehicle has the force's website and email addresses printed on it. As well as police cars, the force also employs motorcycles, helicopters and boats.

Academy

The Dubai Police Academy was founded in 1987, and was granted autonomy from the police force as long as it retains some affiliation with Dubai Police General Headquarters. It was fully inaugurated in 1989 in the presence of Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. In 1992, degrees offered by the academy were made equal to degrees from universities.

The first class was from 1987 to 1988, and consisted of 51 cadets and 30 full-time students, some of whom were existing police officers. they graduated in 1991. During the academic year of 1996-1997, students from other Arabic countries such as Yemen and Palestine were admitted.

Museum

The Dubai Police Museum is located at Al Mulla Plaza opened and opened on November 19, 1987. It comprises three exhibit halls, as well as documenting anti-drug efforts of the police force, and the force's prison systems. On November 19, 1987, the International Council of Museums placed the museum on the record of Arab Museums.

See also

• Law enforcement in the United Arab Emirates

External links

• Dubai city police page retrieved on March 10 2007
• Dubai police site retrieved on March 10 2007
• News story on the force retrieved on March 10 2007
• Further news stories retrieved on March 10 2007
• A case study of the force retrieved on March 10 2007
• Dubai Police Serious Game - Official Site, A serious game for training traffic accident investigators at Dubai Police.