MAKKAH, 16 December 2007 — More than 49,000 security officers, excluding special forces, will take part in this year’s Haj operations, Lt. Gen. Saeed ibn Abdullah Al-Qahtani, director of public security and chairman of the Haj security committee, announced yesterday.

Speaking to Arab News, he confirmed press reports that pickpockets were present during the Haj season. “As you know, the pickpockets who come here are experts and often they commit crimes without being caught,” he said.

However, Qahtani emphasized his department’s efforts to catch such criminals by deploying additional personnel. “We have been able to arrest many gangs of pickpockets and have recorded their names in our computer system and taken their fingerprints. Still many of them manage to sneak into the Kingdom again,” he said.

According to a recent study, 20.4 percent of pickpockets arrested in Makkah were women; they are employed by organizers to target female pilgrims. It is also pointed out that the majority of pickpockets — 46.5 percent — are from Egypt. Gangs also use children below 15 who steal both money and other valuables from pilgrims. The reports also showed that 31.3 percent of foreign pickpockets were linked to organized gangs.

Qahtani said the security forces would not allow pilgrims to put up tents in the holy sites or engage in any improper activities. “We have set up many checkpoints on the roads to Makkah to make sure all domestic pilgrims carry Haj permits. We will not allow those who do not have a permit to proceed to the holy sites,” he said.

The new expansion of the “Masaa” (the walking area between Safa and Marwa) will facilitate the movement of pilgrims in the area. Pilgrims will be able to use the ground floor and first floor of the expanded Masaa.

“The Haj security forces will cooperate with the Presidency for the Two Holy Mosques Affairs and the contractor of the project to help pilgrims make use of the expanded Masaa in an orderly manner,” the general said.

Qahtani said his forces had worked out plans to control the crowds in and around the Grand Mosque in order to avoid stampedes. “We request Saudis and expatriates who have performed Haj in the past to give room to others to perform their religious duties easily and comfortably,” he added.

Speaking about the newly formed forces for the management of pedestrian pilgrims, he said: “This special force has been established after we noticed the growing trend among pilgrims to reach different holy sites on foot.”