Qatar is for the first time setting up police teams on foot patrol to crack down on begging during Ramadan when the menace is at its worst, and including women officers in these teams.
The patrol teams will be in addition to the mobile ones, which will also be manned by both, men and women public security personnel, a top Interior Ministry official has said.
The anti-begging patrols will be working in three shifts round-the-clock during the holy month, said Brigadier Misfir Ali Al Hababi, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
“We are roping in our women officials also to be part of the anti-begging patrols during the fasting month,” Hababi said, according to Qatar News Agency (QNA).
There will in all be 48 patrol teams, Hababi added but didn’t say if there would be separate teams of male and female patrol personnel.
The CID which has a division exclusively dedicated to fighting begging has also set up hotlines and urged people to complain if they see or confront beggars.
The division gave the hotline numbers as (2347453, 234744 and 66414040) and said the lines will work 24 hours.
“We will be coordinating with other law-enforcement agencies as well,” said Al Hababi.
The patrol teams will cover all areas of the country and special vigils will be mounted in public places such as markets, commercial complexes and mosques.
According to him, since people do a lot of charity in the holy month of Ramadan, some elements enter the country on visit visas and take undue advantage and seek alms.
“We have in the past arrested a large number of people who were here on visit visas only for begging during the fasting month.”
This time, the official said, people who help such characters obtain entry visas would also be probed and brought to book. “We are going to deal very strictly with these people.”
Begging has been outlawed by Qatar so the law-enforcement officials have the legal authority to arrest those found begging and deport them.
Al Hababi urged nationals and expatriates to route charity meant for the poor and the needy through charitable organisations instead of giving it to individuals.
“The charitable bodies are responsible mediums to distribute your charity to the most deserving.”
Source:The Peninsula
