Dubai Police Force

The Dubai Police Force is the 15,000 strong[1] police force for the city of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. They come under the jurisdiction of the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE (who in turn is the ruler of Dubai), and they cover an area of 4,114 square kilometres and a population of 1,321,453 people.
Contents[hide]
1 History
2 Organization
2.1 The General Department of Operations
2.2 The General Department of E-Services
2.3 The General Department of Criminal Investigation
2.4 Other departments
3 Police stations
4 Uniform, equipment and vehicles
5 Academy
6 Museum
7 See also
8 Notes
9 External links
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[edit] History
The Dubai Police force was founded on June 1, 1956 in Naif (a locality in the Deira side of Dubai, with the first police station being known as 'Naif Fort'[2]) with only 29 members. The size of the force increased gradually, to 105 in 1960 and to 430 by 1967.[3] In 1973, the force moved its headquarters to their current location of Al Towar, on Al Etihad Street in Dubai. At present, a further move is being planned to a newly constructed headquarters, again in Deira.
The Dubai Police force strives to be 'most progressive' of all Arabic police forces[2][4] and aims for high education standards amongst its personnel. The force was the first to use many new law enforcement techniques, including electronic finger printing and DNA testing. The force was also the first to use GPS systems to locate stolen vehicles. In addition, the force was the first to create a Human Rights Department, as well as the first to employ a Community Policing program.[5]
The new headquarters for the Dubai police is planned to be constructed in Deira, the premises were designed with several considerations in mind. As well as making easy access for both officers and members of the public a priority, the new design aims to separate the departments into different areas. The building is also to feature a central, multi-level internal space, and is designed to fit in with the developing architecture of surrounding Dubai, the Dubai police force describe it as a 'distinguished constructional conception'.

[edit] Organization

A Dubai Police car
The Dubai police force operates under a General Commander and his deputy, who in turn work under the Police Chief and his own deputy. The General Commander forms part of an organizational office which, with a Decision Making Support Centre, organises fifteen separate departments:

[edit] The General Department of Operations
This is the heart of the Dubai Police force. Round the clock telephone lines help to electronically control all patrols from this department, with 2,000 land lines and 178 fax machines,[6] and utilising wireless equipment to locate both car and foot patrols. The department also coordinates all emergency responses as well as search and rescue operations on land and sea.

[edit] The General Department of E-Services
This department is another integral part of the police force, as well as being the most recent department to be created. It was established in 2001 as part of the aims of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, to form a totally electronic government. In 2008 30% of UAE national are assigned to work in the E-services Department to full fill there duty.

[edit] The General Department of Criminal Investigation
This is the primary crime fighting department of the Dubai Police, its objectives are laid out by as follows:
1. Dealing with daily, small time crimes (quarrels, swearing, defamation.. etc.).2. Dealing with crimes of a dangerous nature, such as murder, rape, armed robbery, kidnapping, etc.3. Dealing with organized crime (drugs trafficking, money laundering, internationally wanted criminals etc.)4. Social services, such as lost property, things found, certificates of good conduct, licenses of all kinds etc.)5. Employing scientific evidence (such as Forensic Medicine, fingerprints, documents, arsons, chemical analysis, firearms etc.)6. Employing identity recognition means (such as fingerprints, the DNA, criminal records etc.)7. Crime prevention methods (such guidance, directives, follow-up, statistical projections, periodicals etc)

[edit] Other departments
Other departments of the Dubai Police force include:
General Department of Administrative Affairs
General Department of Traffic
General Department of Organisation, Protective Security and Emergency
General Department of Finance
General Department of Human Resources
General Department of Services and Supplies
General Department of Airports Security
General Department of Punitive Establishment
General Department of Forensic Science
The Dubai Police Academy
General Department of Community Services
General Department of E-Services
General Department of Total Quality

[edit] Police stations

A Dubai Police Officer on duty
There are currently ten Dubai police stations in the city.[4]
Al Rifaa
This station was established in the 1970s to secure the Bur Dubai region. It has been reopened in different premises on two occasions, 1979 and 1992.
Al Muraqqabat
this station was established in 1974.
Al Rashidiyah
Al Rashidiyah was created in 1976 as part of Al Muraqqabat, however it became an independent station in 1984, and was moved to newer premises in 2000.
Naif
The original headquarters of the Dubai Police force, Naif Fort was constructed in 1939, and was used as a prison until the founding of the force in 1956.
Al Qusais
Al Qusais was founded in 1977 and moved to new premises in 1999.
Hatta
This station was established in 1974, and also moved to new premises, this time in 1976.
Nad Al Sheba
This station opened in 1994 in Zabeel, though subsequently moved.
Jebel Ali
This station was built in 1971, and renovated in 2000.
Ports
Ports police station was also built in 1971, and watches over the Rashid Port.
Bur Dubai
This station was founded in 1979.

[edit] Uniform, equipment and vehicles

A police car on Dubai's beaches
The standard uniform of the Dubai police officer is an olive green shirt with a red band running under the left arm and looped through the left epaulette, a dark green beret with a golden badge depicting the logo of the police force, olive green trousers and black boots. Alternatively, officers wear a light brown shirt and trousers, though the rest of the uniform remains the same. High ranking officers wear a combination cap and rank badges on the collar. In Dubai, the police officers are armed with semi-automatic hand guns.
The Dubai police vehicles are painted with a white and dark green colour scheme, with all blue emergency lights. Every Dubai police vehicle has the force's website and email addresses printed on it.[7] As well as police cars, the force also employs motorcycles, helicopters and boats.

[edit] Academy
The Dubai Police Academy was founded in 1987, and was granted autonomy from the police force as long as it retains some affiliation with Dubai Police General Headquarters. It was fully inaugurated in 1989 in the presence of Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. In 1992, degrees offered by the academy were made equal to degrees from universities.
The first class was from 1987 to 1988, and consisted of 51 cadets and 30 full-time students, some of whom were existing police officers. they graduated in 1991. During the academic year of 1996-1997, students from other Arabic countries such as Yemen and Palestine were admitted.