Drug offences fall by more than 60 per cent in Sharjah

Decline in offences is part of an overall fall in crime in the emirate

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The number of drug related crimes in Sharjah has fallen by more than 60 per cent, police said.

Sharjah Police recorded 476 drug offences in 2018 - down from 767 the previous year.

The figures were part of an overall fall in serious crimes recorded in the emirate during the period.

Police cited the success of a concerted awareness campaign set up to combat drug use as a key reason for the decline.

Major General Saif Al Azeri Al Shamsi, commander in chief of Sharjah Police, said serious crimes dropped from 837 in 2017 to 827 last year.

He said police in the emirate held 74 awareness campaigns to tackle crime, including exhibitions and lectures in association with various bodies, including the education sector.

During a press conference to announce the crime statistics, it was also revealed that police have resolved 18,200 financial disputes in three years, helping creditors recover more than Dh313 million in debts.

The police effort was part of the "Reconciliation is Better" initiative, set up to resolve disputes in a more efficient manner for all parties.

Another campaign, called "Relieve Difficulties", set up by prisons in partnership with a number of charities, paid off Dh17 million worth of debts for inmates to help to provide them with a fresh start once they have served their sentences.

Authorities have also worked in tandem to provide health, social and educational care for 111 children of inmates.

Dr Khalifa Kalender, director of the police stations department, said the schemes are an integral part of rehabilitating prisoners.

“These initiatives have created a sense of security among inmates, and will help send them back to be a productive member of the society,” he said.