Police help offenders for life after jail

Abu Dhabi Police hold a meeting with a group of recently released prisoners in a bid to help ex-offenders "plan for their return to society".

Abu Dhabi Police have held a meeting with a group of recently released prisoners in a bid to help ex-offenders "plan for their return to society". About 40 former inmates, who had been sent to jail for drug offences, met with a number of officers from Abu Dhabi Police CID to discuss means of better adapting to life after prison. "It was important to meet with the ex-prisoners in order to strengthen the links between society and the police," said Lt Col Sultan al Darmaki, the director of the police anti-narcotics department.

"They need us to give them a hand and to support them to be able to go back and live a normal life with regular people. "They need to understand the meaning of a new beginning and we should direct them on how to play a positive role in the development of their country," he added, without providing specifics of what of advice was offered to the former convicts. During the meeting, which was held last week at the Abu Dhabi Police CID Headquarters and lasted several hours, Lt Col al Darmaki urged the group to stay in contact with officers to help them solve the problems and challenges of returning to normal life.

The former prisoners also heard a lecture titled "honest repentance" given by the Islamic preacher Hamad al Reyami and focusing on the negative consequences of drugs and how they are viewed in Sharia law. Bags containing Quran CDs, stories of former drug addicts and booklets on the effects of narcotics, were distributed to the audience. @Email:[e-mail]