The main challenge facing the security forces in these crime-ridden districts is lack of manpower and resources. There are only a few police stations and pickets in these districts. Subsequently, there has been a surge in crime. Residents, fed up with rampant crime, have urged the authorities to take strict action to crack down on criminal gangs as well as to beef up security surveillance.
People of these districts, both citizens and expatriates, are wondering why the authorities don’t pay any heed to their demand to enhance security in their areas with opening more police stations and aid posts. Speaking to Al-Riyadh Arabic daily, they also underlined the need to give more executive powers and facilities for district chiefs (umdahs).
Badr Al-Romaih, a Saudi citizen, noted that there are rundown areas in most cities of the world, but the situation in such districts in the Kingdom’s capital city poses potential security threats. He attributed this mainly to the absence of security patrols in these vulnerable areas.
Shumaisi district is an example for this. It is a paradox that there is no police station in the district even though the district hosts a large number of foreigners of various nationalities. There were reports of rising crime in the district, despite the arrest of a large number of criminals in raids conducted at regular intervals in the district. Most of those picked up for crimes such as brewing and sale of alcohol, and running brothels and forgery rackets were overstayers.
Badr also drew attention to the situation in downtown Batha that witnesses roaring business, mainly by illegal foreigners. “We cannot see any security posts on the streets of Batha, where there are a large number of street vendors who do business in violation of the Kingdom’s commercial and residency regulations in broad day light,” he said.
Othman Al-Othman, a Saudi investor in Shumaisi district, recalled that when he first saw heavy presence of people engaged in various activities he thought they were doing legal business. “I had mistaken that they were legal and peace-loving people. But I startled when I realized that there were dangerous criminals among them,” he said while drawing attention to frequent press reports about illegal activities taking place in districts such as Shumaisi.
“The latest incident was the arrest of a man called Al-Ajwadi. Riyadh police arrested a number of illegal residents of the man’s nationality, including a runaway maid, from his apartment. His neighbors believed that the woman, who had been living with him for several years, was his wife. He gave her shelter after fleeing from sponsor,” he said.
According to Othman, several criminals had also been arrested from the district earlier. “They included an African woman in her 50s. She was caught while engaged in brewing alcohol and selling them to her regular customers,” he said while noting that such criminals find a safe haven in the district, taking advantage of the absence of any police pickets. He urged the authorities to take urgent steps to open a police station in Shumaisi.
Sahmi Al-Sobaie, a resident of eastern Riyadh, said there are few police stations in the eastern districts of the city. “It is quite impossible to contain crime without reinforcing the security agencies by opening new police stations and providing them with advanced equipment and facilities. Moreover, serious efforts should also be made to enhance security awareness of the public,” he said while lambasting the lukewarm response of some policemen when informed about crimes taking place in some parts of the city.
“If any vehicle thefts or robbery at shops reported to police, sometimes their response would be that such incidents have become commonplace,” he said, adding that many residents are not encouraged to inform the police about minor or medium scale thefts or other crimes.
Al-Sobaie urged authorities to reinforce police forces with more manpower and equipment to contain rising crime. “As Riyadh is witnessing fast growth at all levels, the city’s security apparatus should also keep pace with it by opening more police stations and aid posts in various districts,” he added.
Muhammad Al-Shahri, an educationist, underlined the need for strengthening coordination and cooperation between police forces and members of society with the objective of achieving enhanced social security and flushing criminals out of the city.
Majed Al-Solaish, a media figure, underscored the need for activating the role of district chiefs in ensuring social security and maintaining law and order. “Their role should no longer be restricted to attestation and signing of documents required by the members of society. They can also play a vital role through lending a hand of support to police in maintaining law and order situation in each district,” he said while urging the authorities to take steps to improve the primitive working conditions of district chiefs by giving them better perks, advanced facilities, including computers.
A recent study by Makkah police shed light on the pathetic condition of district chiefs. The study revealed that monthly income of 40 percent of them are below SR5,000. “About 85 percent of them do not have any additional income to supplement their salaries. Nearly 60 percent of the district chiefs pay office rents from own pockets and 59 percent of them lack manpower, office and technical facilities for carrying out their work,” the study pointed out.
