Swift judgment is best

Crimes by tourists that carry predictable penalties should be dealt with quickly

Young visitors to Dubai can commit crimes through ignorance of the law, and their cases should be heard quickly. (Antoine Robertson / The National)

The establishment of a court in Dubai to handle minor offences by tourists will benefit both those who stand accused and the emirate itself. The court, to open this year, will deal with crimes such as public drunkenness and driving under the influence, which typically result in a fine and, in some cases, deportation.

Dealing with these matters quickly will not trivialise the offences nor diminish the authority of the law and those who enforce it. Having somebody languish in jail for one or two months at the emirate’s expense before the case is even heard makes little sense. The new system will free up the valuable time of police and court officers. For the offender, often a young person who has made a mistake through ignorance of the law, it can mean a speedy return to their home country, their family and their job, which might be imperilled by a sustained stay in custody. Hopefully, the court will be able to turn most cases around in even less than the proposed 10 to 30 days.