Police launch child interrogation rooms
State-of-the art facility will operate outside police stations, in hotels, malls and public places
Anumber of special interrogation rooms for children and juveniles have been launched in different locations in the emirate as part of a unique initiative launched by Dubai Police yesterday.
The interrogation rooms, which will operate outside police stations, mainly in hotels, malls and public places, will be dedicated to collecting statements from children and juveniles with the help of expert investigators including social and psychological specialists, Dubai Police said.
The first-of-its kind initiative was inaugurated yesterday by Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, at several locations in Dubai, including Hyatt Regency Hotel in Al Shindagha area, Radisson Blue in Deira, Mall of the Emirates, Hyatt Park Hotel, Al Nahda Women’s Association in Al Hamriya Area, Dubai Centre for People of Determination, Bin Sougat Centre, Aayan Equestrian Club, in addition to Dubai Women’s Association. Each centre will work under the jurisdiction of the police station of that area.
Major General Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commandant of Criminal Affairs at Dubai Police explained that interrogation rooms will help police to obtain statements from children in an easy way that takes into account their privacy and that of their families with due respects to their humanitarian and social situation.
He said scientific and modern techniques will be used, in keeping with the age of the children. Specialists will rely on intelligence tests, such as the Raven test for children in the age group 5-12, which measures the mental process of a child using an interactive programme, in addition to the Beta testing, which will be used for children between the ages of 12 and 19.
Brigadier Ahmad Bin Ghalaita, director of Al Refa’a police station, said the rooms have been equipped with special tools utilising electronic programmes that will assist in obtaining accurate statements.
“This innovative initiative has two aspects, the first being that following any event children will no longer have to visit police stations to give their statements but instead will be brought to hotels or centres with their parents, which helps in keeping them relaxed,” he said.
The second aspect of the initiative, he explained, was the availability of officers who have been trained to deal with children and have worked in cases where children have been involved, to obtain the child’s statements.
Maj. Gen. Al Mansouri said volunteers from hotels and the private sector will support Dubai Police, adding that there will be campaigns to spread awareness of the services provided in these rooms.