Ask to see ID if ‘cops’ stop you on the streets

sharjah — if someone claiming to be a policeman stops you on the streets, ask to see his official identity card first, the Sharjah Police have urged residents. “if the person claiming to be a policeman flashes the id card quickly and you were unable to check it properly, you have every right to ask to see it again,” a police officer said.

This came as the police launched an awareness campaign to curb robberies committed by criminals impersonating policemen.

A top official said such criminals mostly target Asian nationalities, taking advantage of their unfamiliarity with the Arabic language. They stop unsuspecting residents on the streets, claiming to be from the Criminal investigation department (Cid), and rob them.

The police stressed that officers usually ask for id cards only from people they suspect are wanted in connection with crimes. “The officers do not ask for objects, money or personal belongings,” the officer said.

The police have distributed awareness leaflets in Arabic, English and Urdu among residents. Awareness posters will also be posted at shopping centres and clinics.

Col Mussabah Al Ajill, director of the Cid, told Khaleej Times that cases of criminals impersonating policemen to commit robberies have come down this year. He attributed this to the police’s awareness drives.

According to UAE laws, those caught impersonating cops to commit crimes can be jailed for up to five years.

Residents can report their concerns on 80040 or 065943210.