Crime drops by 40% in Capital amid #StayHome

abu dhabi —There has been a 40 per cent drop in crimes in Abu Dhabi since March this year because of the precautionary measures put in place to combat the Covid-19 crisis, the latest figures revealed.

Counsellor Hassan Mohamed Al Hammadi, director of the public prosecution department in Abu Dhabi, said: “Since the implementation of the sterilisation programme and the #StayHome precautionary measures from March 8 until April 13 to contain coronavirus, 9,510 cases of crimes and offences were recorded across Abu Dhabi emirate as compared to 15,186 cases registered during the same period in 2019.”

The decline in crimes in the Capital follows a similar trend elsewhere in the world and the UAE. In fact, in Dubai, not a single major crime was recorded in the past two months, police said in early April.

Speaking in a virtual Press conference on Wednesday, Al Hammadi said the highest decline in offences — 55 per cent — was registered in traffic cases. The number of drivers prosecuted fell to 166 this year from 365 during the same period last year.

Traffic accidents and deaths resulting from crashes also decreased by 50 per cent this year as compared to last year.

“The significant drop in the number of crimes and accidents was a result of the huge efforts by government bodies to safeguard public safety,” said Al Hammadi.

Prosecutors also registered 2,779 cases of bounced cheques this year as compared to 3,212 recorded last year during the same period, a decrease of 13 per cent.

There were 526 cases of offences regarding violation of the residence law, while 815 such violations were registered over the same period in 2019, a drop of 35 per cent.

The public prosecution department

The significant drop in the number of crimes and accidents was a result of the huge efforts by government bodies to safeguard public safety.”

Hassan Mohamed Al Hammadi,

Director, public prosecution department in Abu Dhabi

9,510

Cases of crimes and offences were recorded across Abu Dhabi

55%

Drop in traffic cases

50%

Drop in accidents and road deaths

44%

Drop in theft cases

36%

Drop in drug abuse cases

highlighted that the government decision to extend the validity of residence visas and Emirates IDs for residents, as well as visit and tourist visas until December 2020 has contributed to decline in the residence law violations.

Al Hammadi said: “The economic stimulus packages announced by the Executive Council of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, which aimed at supporting businesses and other economic activities, helped in reducing bounced cheque crimes.”

Assault crimes decreased by 18 per cent from 402 cases last year to 313 this year during the same period, while cases of theft declined to 201 from 362, a decrease of 44 per cent.