Traffic congestion on Makkah’s roads have been reduced by 50 percent because of the expansion of the public transport site in Al-Ghazah next to the Grand Mosque and the decision to cut pilgrim numbers this year, a senior city police officer said recently.

Lt. Col. Assaf Al-Qurashi, head of the Makkah police department, said the central command was pleased with operations in the first few days of Ramadan. “Plans were well thought out and approved by the Minister of Interior Prince Mohammad bin Naif.”

He said various operations were under way to tackle criminals and organize transport sites. Detectives have been deployed in the central area and various entrances and exits.

Al-Qurashi said 4,200 security personnel are on duty, which includes 80 female officers in certain parts of the Grand Mosque and 150 officers involved in investigations and research. A total of 25 percent of the force has been deployed to counter negative phenomena.

He rejected reports of delays in the construction of the new headquarters of the department. The project was handed to the contractor and “would be completed soon.” He said the department would move to a new rented building in Al-Nasim after Eid Al-Fitr, until the building is completed.

He said there are new police buildings throughout the holy city. “The command issued a directive for all police departments to have their own buildings.” A number of buildings have been completed including in the Al-Sharae’ neighborhood, Al-Jamoum governorate and Al-Aziziyah, he said.

Al-Qurashi said a number of theft cases were reported in the central area but all the perpetrators, from various countries, were caught. He said all the victims got their property back, including a person who had SR27,000 stolen.

He said pilgrims should rather use ATM cards than carry large amounts of money on them.