15% drop in criminal reports at Dubai’s residential communities

15% drop in criminal reports at Dubai’s residential communities

Dubai: Dubai residential communities have recorded a 15 per cent drop in criminal reports, thanks to the ‘Policeman in Your Neighbourhood’ initiative. Colonel Aref Ali Bishoh, Director of the Crime Prevention Department at the General Department of Criminal Investigation, said that ‘Policeman in Your Neighbourhood’ is one of the Dubai Police’s community initiatives that serve as a liaison between the police and members of the public by addressing security, reducing the crime rate, following up on community reports and helping people in residential districts. Launched in 2013 by the Crime Prevention Department at the General Department of Criminal Investigation, the ‘Policeman in Your Neighbourhood’ initiative has handled 1,400 cases over the last two years. The initiative runs on a prevention methodology that addresses issues head-on, improves services, provides reports on infrastructure to concerned authorities when necessary, and organises activities and after-school programmes and workshops to raise youth awareness. Col. Bishoh confirmed that the initiative’s team had contributed effectively to spreading security awareness among residents and building a positive community relationship by establishing a strong communication channel to receive complaints and resolve disputes amicably. “Dubai Police was keen on continuously developing the initiative by reviewing international best practices of community policing