Number of illegal workers caught in Dubai falls

Last year, 22,173 illegal workers were either arrested or turned themselves in to police.

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DUBAI // The number of illegal workers caught in Dubai has halved over the past two years, police figures released yesterday show.

Last year, 22,173 illegal workers were either arrested or turned themselves in to police, up from 21,690 in 2010. But both figures are less than half the 45,549 illegal workers caught in 2009. Police said the decrease was down to security measures, such as CID staff dealing with illegal workers becoming a sub-department in April 2010.

Brig Khalil Al Mansouri, the head of CID, said illegals were an economic, social and security threat.

"I have given directions to all police stations and CID to implement special security programmes by checking that labourers in their respective areas are residing in the country legally," he said.

A special emphasis has been put on farm workers.

"I urge people to report any illegal to the authorities as this could protect society as a whole," said Brig Al Mansouri. "I also ask property owners to ensure that their tenants' situation in the country is legal."