Ever since the launch of the anti-begging campaign by the authorities of Sharjah and Ajman, officials have recorded as many as 137 beggars, officials say.

Colonel Ebrahim Al Ajel, director of the Criminal and Investigation Department in Sharjah Police, said, “113 beggars were arrested in Sharjah. Residents in the emirate are being asked to call dedicated numbers and report what is described as “seasonal begging.” The aim of this campaign is to encourage the public to cooperate with the police and protect the emirate.”

The campaign known as “Combat Begging & Help Indigents” started off on the very first of Ramadan and its main goal is to reduce and stop the menace of begging. The police and the officials urge residents to call 901 or they can call the hotline number 80040 and report the instances of beggars and incident of begging and other related activities going on in Sharjah.

Of the 113 that were caught, 44 of them reported were women. However, the numbers when it comes to begging have reduced drastically over the years.

The police in Ajman have reported that they have arrested 24 people that were suspected of begging. The Ajman police had done raids in order to track down such incidents in different parts of the Emirate. The suspects include 13 men and 11 women in total.

Colonel Ebrahim Al Ajel, director of the Criminal and Investigation Department in Sharjah Police, also added, “Police patrols have been deployed at places where beggars are found. They take advantage of Ramadan and go to mosques and markets, banks and residential areas to ask people for money. People who have limited resources or face difficult situations in the UAE can contact any of the authorized charity and humanitarian organizations, who will study their individual cases and offer them help in a legal and safe manner.”

Major Ahmad Saeed Al Nuaimi, Director of Ajman Criminal and Investigation Department, said, “People who have limited resources or face difficult situations in the UAE can contact any of the authorized charity and humanitarian organizations, who will study their individual cases and offer them help in a legal and safe manner.”

Beggars take advantage of the Holy month of Ramadan by going to the mosques, banks, residential areas and markets and asking people for money.