ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Wednesday, March 11th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

The Law Respect Culture Bureau at the General Secretariat of the Office of H.H Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior warned the public against the scams that beggars use to play with people emotions in order to achieve their objectives.

Colonel Dr. Salah Obeid Al Ghoul, Director of the Law Respect Culture Bureau, the General Secretariat of the Office of H.H Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, called upon all members of society to cooperate with the designated teams of the police authorities and to work together to combat this social nuisance. “As our first line of defense, members of society are requested to report any cases of begging and to not sympathize with these people who rely on playing with emotions in order to deceive people,” he said.

“Begging is an alien behavior for the Emirati society,” Colonel Dr. Al Ghoul said. “This behavior distorts the refined image of the UAE, a country that is known for its community and its social solidarity. The UAE provides all means necessary for citizens and residents to live decently. Anyone who practices this act has no shred of dignity and has no class.”

Colonel Dr. Al Ghoul also explained that according to Article No. (1) of the Abu Dhabi domestic law, Law No. (15) of 1975, any person over the age of 18 who is found to be begging on streets or public venues, regardless of existing health conditions or unemployed, shall be punished by law. “Begging is not a suitable resource for earning a living; and the act of begging includes showcasing trivial goods, performing any type of misleading presentation that may involve the fabrication of wounds or disabilities, and any other means in which gaining sympathy is used as a tactic to generate compassion.”

Article No. (2) states that anyone found to be begging according to any of the circumstances as stated in Article No. (1) shall be jailed for a period of not more than two months and will have to pay a fine not exceeding 500 AED. Violators may be subjected to either one of the two stated penalties. As stipulated in the law, the court may deport any foreign national who has been found guilty of begging after serving his/her jail term. If the foreign national found guilty for begging is found to have legitimate health concerns, he/she shall be jailed for a period of not more than one month and will pay a fine not exceeding 200 AED. Violators may be subjected to either one of the two stated penalties, or be immediately deported without any other punishments.

Colonel Dr. Al Ghoul encouraged all members of society to cooperate with the police within the framework of the awareness campaign “No to Begging” as organized by the Security Media Department at the General Secretariat of the Office of H.H Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. Individuals should report beggars in Abu Dhabi by calling the Police Operations Room at 999, or the Aman Service at 8002626. For other emirates, reports should be directed to the following: Dubai, 800243; Sharjah, 065632222; Ras Al Khaimah, 072053372; Ajman, 067401616; Umm Al Quwain, 999; and Fujairah, 092051100 or 092224411.

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Abu Dhabi Police, please click HERE

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The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-987-1317

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com

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