Dozens held in police swoop on weapons

Sharjah // Police have arrested 19 people who have been charged with possessing firearms and swords, during a campaign to make the emirate's residential areas safer. Brig Humaid Mohammed al Hudaidi, the director general of Sharjah Police, said officers had also arrested up to 70 youths who had been involved in minor criminal activity in recent weeks. The arrests were made during the past two weeks.

He said at police headquarters yesterday that the arrests were part of a campaign to "restore peace and harmony" to residential areas. "Many youths were arrested from shopping malls, markets and streets disturbing women and girls, and all activities that are socially unacceptable in our community," Brig al Hudaidi said. He added that police were working with the parents to instil greater discipline.

Brig Yousef Musa al Naqbi, the director general of Sharjah CID, said officers were intensifying surveillance and inspection of stores that sold weapons and other dangerous items. The arrests came shortly after a radio talk show broadcast several calls complaining about mounting levels of crime in the emirate and the use of dangerous weapons in attacks. ykakande@thenational.ae