AJMAN // Keeping the public safe while also ensuring officers are able to observe their fast during Ramadan can pose a challenge for police in Ajman.
As with other government institutions and companies police are working reduced hours in the holy month, with the daily shift pattern restructured to ensure that there are always enough men and women on duty to affectively manage the emirate.
Officers are permitted to break their fast and pray while on duty but in an organised way, said Maj Saif Al Falasi, head of the traffic and patrol division.
“At prayer time not all patrols go to pray together, they shift between each other. When they want to break their fast, they can eat from the box meal that we distribute and then go home at 9pm if their shift starts at 1pm and eat there because it is not allowed to eat inside patrol cars.
“They don’t have shifts every day, just once every five days. If a cop has a shift tonight, he takes it after an off day to relax and stay with his family,” Maj Al Falasi said.
During Ramadan police distribute iftar boxes to drivers before magrib prayers at sunset. This is to encourage motorists not to drive at excessive speeds to reach home to break their fast with their families, said Capt Noora Al Shamsi, Ajman Police director of media and public relations.
“We intensify patrols on roads and at big mosques during evening and Taraweeh prayers to organise,” Maj Al Falasi said. The majority of incidents that occur on the roads during Ramadan, he said, were minor collisions between vehicles around iftar time.
Muslim inmates serving time in the emirate’s prison are also provided with iftar and suhoor meals, said Col Mubarak Rizzi, director of institutions.
“We provide them with iftar and suhoor meals per day throughout the month, in addition to iftar meals, zakat of wealth, eid bonus for female prisoners’ kids, coupons for prisoners’ families who are needy to buy the essential goods and eid clothes for inmates’ children,” Col Rizzi said.
“Charity organisations in Ajman will do iftar for 20 families to gather prisoners with their families in a special place inside the institution containing a big buffet.
“We select them based on their good behaviour and their request. This occasion is special where family members gather with each other. It has a social and psychological impact on all of them and we don’t stop providing non-Muslims with the essential three meals.’
Col Rizzi said Ramadan was a quiet time for inmates.
“The regular problems among inmates become less and they become calmer and more comfortable. The crime that increases during the month is begging,” he said.
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