62 arrested for begging in Dubai

A man and a woman were arrested while begging in Dubai Mall, after a complaint was received about the two through Dubai Police's Twitter account. Police arrested a total of 62 beggars in the first week of Ramadan, as part of its anti-begging campaign launched last month. The beggars were caught following complaints from the public through the hotline set up to report beggars, Colonel Mohammad Rashid Al Muhairi, General Department of Criminal Investigation, Department of Tourist Security, and head of the campaign, said. Since the campaign's hotline was launched, more than 84 calls have been received. "We encourage people to protect themselves and their society by reporting beggars only through the hotline 8004438, as this number is manned round the clock, and the calls received will be analysed to help us reach important conclusions about begging activities," Col Al Muhairi said. The campaign also includes inspecting all collection boxes located in mosques, malls and public areas to ensure they belong to licensed charitable societies. "It is absolutely banned for unlicensed bodies to place collection boxes or hold fund-raising parties without the prior approval of the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities, which is the only authority that can authorise such activities," he said. Captain Abdullah Atiq, Director of Investigation at the Dubai Department of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, said the department's role included follow-up steps. ‘Facing a trial' "We are provided with the names of these people and their sponsors. If they have been deported before, the offenders face a trial for returning to the UAE after departure," he said. Those who sponsor beggars, whether on residence or visit visas, also face legal action. A first offence incurs a fine of Dh5,000, and the second Dh7,000 for each beggar. If the violation is repeated, the department may decide to reduce the sponsor's quota of visas or even suspend issuance of visas to this sponsor, who will also have to pay for the deportation tickets of the beggars. "If the sponsor fails to pay, the department will pay for their tickets but all the sponsor's transactions with the department will be suspended until he reimburses the department and pays all outstanding fines as well," Capt Atiq said. During 2010, more than Dh60,000 was confiscated from unauthorised collection boxes, and a staggering Dh8,773,000 from unlicensed fund-raising parties. In Sharjah, Police arrested a total of 32 beggars during the first week of Ramadan, including at petrol stations and in shops. To report a beggar, call 8004438 Licensed charities authorised to place donation boxes:     Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charitable Humanitarian Establishment     Al Maktoum Foundation     Dar Al Ber Society     Dubai Charity Association     Beit Al Khair Society     Red Crescent Authority (Dubai)     Dubai Islamic Bank Foundation     Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation     Al Baraka Charitable Society