Dubai, September 24: Nearly 1,000 persons were arrested for being public nuisances at beaches during the nine months of this year, Major Mohammed Rashid Al Muhairi, Director of Tourist Security Department said.
He said 926 persons were rounded up, often harrassing tourists between 2pm and 5pm at the beach area in Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim.
Some of those arrested were found violating residency and immigration laws and were deported.
Police usually gather them in one area of the beach and instruct them not to disturb tourists.
He said that if they continue to misbehave, action would be taken against them. Regarding indecent acts on the beaches, Al Muhairi said the department spreads awareness among tourists, especially Europeans to respect the UAE traditions.
“We arrested a British national of Pakistani origin who was accompanied by two females and was caught at Umm Suqeim near Burj Al Arab,” he said.
“Both women were wearing indecent dresses and were referred to the port police station for public prosecution.”
Muhairi said the police enforce laws on all people regardless of their nationality. He said the police officers also deal flexibly with tourists who were seen moving far from beaches while wearing swimming costumes.
The department also arrested some people who claimed they practised magic while trying to cheat tourists. In one instance, an Asian who was accompanied by four women was caught trying to use a rooster’s beak to cheat tourists.
Al Muhairi said the total number of people arrested by the department was 1,311 for such cases.
He said police usually monitor people who disturb visitors, sometimes by taking tourists’ photos.
Most arrests were made for public beach disturbances with 213 arrested in April, 147 in March and 188 in February.
The security department also arrested 60 illegal workers in the tourism trade for violating residency and labour laws. Other arrests included 143 people who violated desert safari rules, six who worked for tourist companies, six for other crimes and two for begging. Some of those arrested have been deported.
–Agencies–