UAE- 20% drop in Sharjah road fatalities

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Road fatalities caused by traffic accidents dropped by 20 per cent in 2017 as compared to 2016, according to recent statistics of the Sharjah Police. As many as 105 people died in road crashes in 2017, while the toll was 132 in 2016.

Overall, traffic accidents declined by 15 per cent in 2017, as compared to 2016, including run-overs which saw a 14 per cent drop. As many as 156 run-overs were recorded last year, while their number was 182 in 2016, revealed Lt. Col Mohammed Al Alai, director of the traffic department.

Apart from speeding and reckless driving, tailgating and using mobile phones while at the wheel has also witnessed a 37 per cent decline. Seat belt violations dropped by 20 per cent in 2017.

The total number of traffic awareness campaigns organised during 2017 was 17. The traffic department carried out four inspection campaigns to control the vehicular congestion on road.

Col. Ali bu Al Zoud, director of the department of licenses, mechanisms and drivers, said the factors that led to the achievement of reduction in accidents included deployment of patrols and installation of 30 smart radar on the roads of the emirate, as well as spreading road safety awareness through social media as well as other means of media.

Lt. Saud Al Shaibah, director of the traffic department, said that the department has launched traffic awareness campaigns focused on safety on five main roads, which are most accident-prone.

Drug crime rate increases

Lt. Col Majjid Al Assam, deputy director of anti-narcotics department at Sharjah Police, said that in 2017, they handled 767 drug cases, as compared to 712 in 2016 - a 7 per cent increase. The drugs' seizures during 2017 amounted to about 9.5 million pills and narcotics to about 400kg, with a market value of about Dh515,122,103.

He added that the department carried out 57 awareness-raising activities, including lectures, exhibitions and programmes, organised in cooperation with various sectors.

Growing role of forensic laboratory

Col Ahmed Al Serkal, director of Sharjah Police forensic laboratory, said that the lab has helped crack 12,545 'mysterious' cases in 2017.

Serious crimes decline by 45%

The number of serious crimes in Sharjah during the last year declined by 45 per cent, with 837 such crimes recorded in 2017 as compared to 1,511 during 2016.

Brigadier Abdullah bin Mubarak Bin Amer, deputy commander-in-chief of the Sharjah Police, said, "Intentional fire accidents (arsons) witnessed a 60 per cent decline in 2017, with four reported cases last year and 10 cases in 2016. Premeditated murders witnessed 71 per cent decline with only two such killings reported in 2017, as compared to seven in 2016. Assaults and robberies plummeted by 52 per cent in 2017 in comparison to 2016. Criminal crimes also took a dip by 7 per cent in 2017."

He added that the sense of security in Sharjah increased to 97 per cent in 2017. It was 92 per cent in 2016.

Major General Saif Al Zarri Al Shamsi, commander-in-chief of Sharjah Police, said that Sharjah has witnessed a drastic decline in alarming crimes and the safety and security in the emirate has increased.

"The comforting figures are the result of the comprehensive plans of Sharjah Police to ensure Sharjah is a safer emirate. Our main challenge in 2018 is to ensure UAE is one of the best countries that implements safety and security rules. We are regularly monitoring our performance to make sure we are moving on the right track in attaining progress and implementing the national agenda that mainly aims at ensuring safety and security."

Colonel Dr Ahmad Al-Naour, acting director-general of central operations, said that 513 theft crimes were recorded last year - a significant decrease of 52 per cent - when compared with 1,069 thefts in 2016.

He explained that the rate of disturbing crimes has registered a marked drop, as the percentage of criminal offences during 2017 was 7.37 per cent. In 2017, a total of 12,633 crimes were recorded in the emirate and 13,638 in 2016.

He stressed that the readiness to respond quickly to emergency is an important reason behind the low rate of crimes. The rate of emergency response was 9.2 minutes last year. It was 10.3 minutes in 2016.

He attributed the achievement of security indicators to the implementation of seven security campaigns. The campaigns managed to check illegal elements, and vendors who carry out unscrupulous activities in the emirate. These drives resulted in the arrest of 301 illegal elements of various nationalities.

More people avail police services

Brig Arif Al Sherif, director of customer satisfaction department, said that during 2017, 32 police services were provided to 2,531,892 customers, as compared to 962,236 people - an increase of 161 per cent.

He pointed out that police stations were able to address 8,698 complaints in 2017, which was 40.7 per cent of the total number of complaints received. Through an initiative titled ' Reconciliation is good', the police restored Dh1,347,000 which was paid to their owners without the need to refer cases to the courts through a amicable pact between the conflicting parties.

He said that the Sharjah Police also launched several schemes in 2017, including 'Sahrjah is safe city project', and 'Future foresight 2030 project' - which is being conducted in cooperation with 25 government institution.

The police also started the initiative of home vehicle confiscation in 2017, in which it seized 453 vehicles at homes of its owners, in addition to unified electronic platform in the operations room with coordination of civil defence.

Afkar Abdullah

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