Smart policing keeps homes safe
Summer is here. Families are waiting for schools to close in two weeks to go on that long overdue vacation they have been planning for many months. But are their homes safe? In Dubai, the police are working to ensure homes are under watch 24/7. No break-ins were reported last year. A home protection scheme has been effectively implemented by increasing neighbourhood patrols and registering more people into the police database before they head out of the country for a well-deserved holiday. It speaks of the efficiency that is gradually being built into the system to prevent crime. That said, it is important for people in the neighbourhood to report suspicious activity and persons to the police. The public has a role to play in keeping localities safe, is the message security officials are sending to residents as they ramp up smart policing mechanisms to keep the city safe. As part of this advanced system, police are roping in Dubai Municipality to make vacations stress-free for residents. Under Dubai Police’s advanced digital ‘Home Safety Scheme’, cameras in apartment blocks and villas will now be linked to the control room, and will help police keep track of what’s happening in the neighbourhood.
All residents have to do is to download Dubai Police’s app and register before they take that muchneeded break. They are also required to provide the phone number of someone they know who is staying back in the city. It costs nothing to become part of the Home Safety Scheme, and police are encouraging more people to register for the safety of the community. Police patrols near homes when people are away reassures them and their loved one. The scheme is unique and must be lauded for the digital connect the people have with law enforement authorities. Surveillance through smartphones is the best way to prevent crime. The community can be easily reached through their gadgets, and law enforcement officials are sparing no effort to keep the city and country safe by keeping pace with technology. Dubai has even put a Robocop on duty, a first for the region. They could be patrolling the streets near our homes soon.