Dubai Police brought tears of joy among residents
From crime control and security to Covid-19 regulation wasn’t an easy transition for Dubai Police. But Dubai Police yet again proved their capabilities by controlling the spread of Covid-19, maintaining public order and promoting safer communities.
Law-enforcement officers kept ensuring local shutdowns, encouraging social distancing and enforcing stay-at-home mandates, all on a war footing. Despite officers being confronted with a variety of novel challenges, Dubai Police managed to maintain that fine balance between their usual responsibilities and protecting the health of residents by ensuring strict adherence to the Covid protocols announced by the authorities.
Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, Director of Traffic Department and a senior member of the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disasters Management in Dubai, said street patrol officers were confronted with various challenges such as the constant risk of contracting the infection, ensuring adherence to government measures and numerous alterations in policing protocols.
Using artificial intelligence and radar
“Dubai Police played a key role in controlling the pandemic, in cooperation with the other government entities. We used latest technologies such as radars and artificial intelligence to contain the pandemic during movement restrictions,” Brig Al Mazroui told Gulf News.
Police patrols were on roads and at checkpoints on the emirate’s borders as well as at local markets. Drones were used to send awareness messages to beachgoers and other community members. Thermal helmets were worn by the officers to monitor the temperatures of people using public transport.
“During the pandemic, there was a reduction in the crime rate. It fell to almost zero. Moreover, the pandemic was a new challenge for us, but we benefited from the crisis by gaining new knowledge and we can now pass it on to the next generation to help them learn how to deal with such crises,” added Brig Al Mazroui.
Despite the risk factor, officers of Dubai Police stuck to their task — day in and day out. “The risk was that we had to deal with the public every day, without knowing whether the person in front of us was infected or not. We feared for the health of our families, but we kept working and didn’t leave the field of duty,” he said.
Moreover, Brig Al Mazroui said, 99 per cent of the people in Dubai were aware of the instructions and they followed all the precautionary measures to curb Covid-19. “I was shocked by the level of awareness and responsibility among the community members in Dubai.
During the lockdown in the Naif area, many people volunteered to serve the area. Some of them got infected in the process, but they recovered soon and returned to volunteer. That shows the level of unity in society even when faced with the pandemic,” he added.
It was a new challenge for us, but we benefited from the crisis by gaining new knowledge and we can now pass it on to the next generation.”
UAE leaders’ support
Brig Al Mazroui praised the support of UAE leaders, especially when Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, visited a police checkpoint on Shaikh Zayed Road during the movement restrictions. “Officers were checking movement permits when they saw Shaikh Hamdan. It was such a pleasant surprise as he saluted and encouraged the force. Our leaders were among us, on the ground, which made us feel even more confident,” said Al Mazroui.
As movement restrictions were applied in 2020 to control the spread of Covid-19, Dubai Police created a website to issue permits to those who needed to step outside their homes to collect essential supplies such as food and medicines. “Dealing with the public was hard in the early stages of movement restrictions. We created a website for people to obtain permits to step out during emergencies. People were able to use the permit easily, using the dedicated website, to fetch their daily necessities,” added Brig Al Mazroui.
As Dubai decided to lockdown the Naif area in 2020 due to the high rate of Covid cases there, some infected people from Naif were taken outside the area for treatment. When they recovered and returned, there was a pleasant surprise waiting for them. “As they returned, residents of Naif area were celebrating their return. It was an unforgettable day and a moment that brought tears to everyone’s eyes,” Brig Al Mazroui said.
Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazroui | Director Traffic Department, senior member, Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disasters Management in Dubai
Police patrols were on roads and at checkpoints on Dubai’s borders as well as at local markets. Drones were used to send awareness messages to beachgoers and other community members. Thermal helmets were worn by the officers to monitor the temperatures of people using public transport.