800 beggars arrested during Ramadan

More than 800 beggars, including 400 women and 300 children between the age of 10 and 15 years, have been rounded up since the beginning of Ramadan, said Saad Al-Shahrani, director of the Anti-Beggary Department in Jeddah.
Speaking to Arab News, Al-Shahrani said: “All the men apprehended were Africans and Asians who overstayed their residence permits. We are coordinating with government agencies to take action for their deportation.”
He called upon the people to cooperate with authorities in trying to eradicate the nuisance of begging from the Kingdom, which increases manifolds during Ramadan.
In another development, Jeddah police intensified security campaign to help reduce traffic jams and to ensure the safety of both motorists and pedestrians. The purpose behind the campaign is also to address negative factors during Ramadan, including street begging.
Abdullah Al-Qahtani, chief of Jeddah police, said: “We will continue to apprehend beggars wherever they are. They are mostly found at traffic lights and intersections and at shopping malls and mosques. Most of those who make begging their profession are either people who overstayed following the expiry of their residence permits or people who came for Haj or Umrah and overstayed.”
Al-Qahtani said: “Charity work can be done through legal welfare organizations across Saudi Arabia. Those who come to perform Haj or Umrah must understand that their best and only option is to leave the Kingdom once they have performed their religious duties.”
Nawwaf Al-Bouq, spokesman for Jeddah police, said that 1,749 individuals were apprehended last Shaaban, of whom 829 were women, 759 children and 161 men.



“All of them are foreigners of various nationalities. We also apprehended more than 200 peddlers,” he added.