DUBAI // More than 850 arrests for crimes including pickpocketing, illegal residency and sexual harassment were made on the Dubai Metro last year.
Police did not provide the number of arrests made in 2010, but said the figure represented a 61.4 per cent drop based on the number of trips made. Last year, there were 1.5 arrests per million trips, while in 2010 there were 3.89 arrests per million trips.
The most arrests, 134, were made at Ittihad Square station. This was followed by City Centre station, 123, and Al Rashidya station, 117. No breakdown of the types of crimes was available.
The figures were released yesterday during a ceremony organised by the Dubai Police transport security department to honour distinguished employees and partners.
Lt Col Mohammed Atiq Al Thani, the head of the department, said that the majority of the 862 arrests involved petty crimes or illegal workers.
A small number of arrests for pickpocketing and sexual harassment were made.
"These types of crimes usually occur when the Metro is crowded, mainly in the weekend or on a public holiday. We had some harassment cases registered at New Year's Eve," said Lt Col Al Thani.
The transport security department was launched at the same time as the Metro in 2009 and initially had 885 police personnel. Today that number has increased to 1,115 to keep up with the demands of about 370,000 daily commuters.
wissa@thenational.ae
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
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Etihad Airways – 600555666
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