Sharjah Police said that 85 percent of public places in Sharjah are now under camera surveillance. Crime and road accidents have decreased in Sharjah compared to the previous year. Police Chief Major General Saif Zaari Al Shamsi said that 95 percent of Sharjah residents are confident that they are safe.
He was speaking to the media at a media forum organized at the police headquarters. Last year, there was a seven percent decrease in crime, including drug related cases. However, electronic and digital crimes pose a major threat to security. The police said that special training is being given to officers to deal with new digital crimes and identify new criminal trends. The police chief praised the support given by expatriates and others to the security of Sharjah.
The Media Forum honored the media for their cooperation in bringing the news of Sharjah Police to the people. Last year, the number of people who died in road accidents in Sharjah decreased by 22 percent. Officials said that the efficiency of the police has been increased so that they can rush to the scene within four minutes and 58 seconds in emergencies. There was a seven percent decrease in drug cases.
Within seven months, 27,000 surveillance cameras were installed in public areas. 65,799 cameras are currently monitoring various areas of Sharjah. 577 electronic and cyber crimes were reported in Sharjah last year. The police are planning strong measures to deal with frauds using new technologies. The police also pointed out that the elderly are mostly victims of cyber and digital frauds.