Do we need an extra layer of bureaucracy?

Requiring newcomers to undergo criminal checks may seem sensible, but is it viable?

enior judges, prosecutors and lawyers are pushing for a mandatory certificate of good conduct to prove that those wishing to move to the UAE have no criminal record. Randi Sokoloff / The National

Every country has the right to take measures to protect its security and ensure the safety of its people. But how far should these steps go? As The National reported yesterday, senior judges, prosecutors and lawyers are pushing for a mandatory certificate of good conduct to prove that those wishing to move to the UAE have no criminal record. As judge Dr Ali Al Galadari at the Dubai Court of Appeals said: "It's similar to the medical tests mandatory for those moving to the UAE to prevent the spread of contagious diseases."

The call came after a man was convicted of kidnapping, rape and murder after moving to this country. It was revealed in court that the 48-year-old had a criminal record in Jordan, his home country. One can argue that if the man’s past misdemeanours had been known before he entered the country, this hideous crime would have been prevented.

However, there are also immense complexities that would come with a mandatory requirement for a good behaviour certificate. The first question would be whether such a document is available in all labour-exporting countries. Some countries might have a system in place, others might only issue official documents for domestic use and others might have no system in place at all. Where would that leave recruiters?

It’s also easy to speculate that the certification process could fall prey to corruption and document falsification in some societies. Additionally, good conduct certificates offer no guarantees that a person will refrain from criminal activity at a later date.

Introducing a requirement for such a certificate would also add another bureaucratic layer to a recruitment system that is already laden with administration. Most companies have a candidate checking process in place that is thorough and takes months to complete. Adding one more requirement may discourage some good and talented people from seeking employment and opportunities in this country.

All this is not to discourage the suggestion. Every country has to balance security concerns with employment needs and to make sure that it is not importing undesirables into its labour market. That is certainly the intention of this proposal, but the puzzle that lawmakers and officials will have to figure out is how to introduce such a system to deliver a safer society in a way that is viable.