Police to launch anti-begging campaign for holy month

Police are to clamp down on beggars during Ramadan.

DUBAI // Police are launching an anti-begging campaign to cope with an expected increase in the activity during Ramadan.

Brigadier Khalil Al Mansouri, the head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), said officers would be increasing their number of patrols during the holy month, as professional beggars were known to target the emirate during that period.

"I urge the public not to sympathise with these people but to report them to the concerned authorities," he said.

Brig Al Mansouri added that the department had prepared enough patrols and field investigation teams to cover the whole city.

Last year police caught 185 beggars during the holy month, compared to 251 in 2010.