The Qatari Police - Essay Example

The Qatari Police The Ministry of Interior has general accountability for public security, as well as law and order. The national police under this ministry, has the main responsibility of maintenance of public order, while, at the same time the prevention and investigation of crimes. Police in Qatar are responsible for general security, protection of public facilities, combating crime, and the population normally regards police as effective. The National Guard, which happens to be a semiautonomous body, tends to have guard duties on the border, as well as at oil fields, utilities, along with other strategic locations. This guard serves as a cache for the regular forces while reinforcing the metropolitan police as required. The rate of crime in Qatar is normally low due to the large presence of police throughout the country. Although occurrences of violence tend to be rare, they have happened more frequently as a result of Doha’s population, as well as economic pressures on emigrant workers. There are reports of verbal and physical harassments of unaccompanied emigrant women by local and third country national young men. On the other hand, reports of petty theft tend to be infrequent though they have been growing; they include ATM and credit card theft, pick pocketing and purse snatching (Peter & Dilip 10). The main police divisions are immigration, criminal investigation, trials and courts-martial, traffic, prisons, emergency police, civil defense, nationality and passports. The criminal investigation division tends to be accountable for ordinary criminal cases, while Kuwait State Security tends to investigate security-related offenses. Both have concerns with investigations of terrorism, as well as those suspected of collaborating with Iraq. The U.S. Department of State evaluates the present crime rate in Qatar as being low. However, according to reports by Qatar’s Ministry of Interior, there is a substantial increase in crime levels in Qatar since 2005 and there are a projection of continued rise in years to come. Given the gigantic number of construction projects, as well as immense economic activity ongoing all through Qatar, particularly in and around Doha, along with the Industrial and Energy producing areas, there has been the establishment of foreign labor camps to contain the immense foreign labor pool resident within Qatar. These areas have higher occurrences of crime compared to other areas in Qatar. In areas of Doha, as well as its environs, all through weekends and after hours, huge numbers of foreign workers gather together, fundamentally placing these areas off-bound to the majority of expats, together with their families, unescorted females, along with minor-aged children as a result of over-crowding and the existence of an almost entirely male laborer demographic (Peter & Dilip 19). Violent crime tends to be comparatively rare and occurs in Qatar and happens to be more prevalent in the labor camps of the third country national (TCN), as well as the industrial areas. Qatar reports that the majority of violent crime instances are amongst certain ethnic groups comprising of young male laborers and workers who tend to be indirect against western expatriates. However, there are reports of instances of sexual harassment, along with assault amongst females both within public areas, as well as at their residences. There are occurrences of violent crime amongst Qatari nationals or by Qataris against foreign workers like domestic staff, although it in most cases goes unreported or is not thoroughly investigated. In the past, there were incidents of seizing of large quantities of illicit drugs in Qatar by local authorities as a result of enhanced enforcement, huge emphasis on interdiction, as well as increased capabilities of law enforcement in identifying, monitoring, tracking and apprehending offenders. Seizures took place mainly at ports of entry and within maritime domain throughout interdiction operations, which included hashish, heroin, opium, Al Kat, and a variety of drug tablets. Reports indicate that Qatar continues growing as a center for contraband trafficking; nonetheless, in the recent past, there was a small decrease in the number of seizures of maritime drug, due to the increased capability of interdiction along with better rules of engagement, as well as the utilization of surface monitoring coastal radars, which contribute to the decline in activities of maritime smuggling along the extended coastline of Qatar (Peter & Dilip 28). More recently, a number of drug seizures happened at DOH airport comprising of international drug smugglers utilizing mules in the transportation of quantities of narcotics through commercial aircraft to or through Qatar. How the improved the police department Police chosen for officer rank goes through a three-year program at the Police Academy. On the other hand, National Guard officer candidates go to the Kuwaiti Military College whereby they attain specialized guard training. Women work in police departments like criminal investigation, airport security and inquiries. When the Qatari Police go the Academy, they undergo training on how to treat people politely, while at the same time; always work in upholding the law and improving the image of the police. This rigorous training course comprises of practical training, as well as lectures in areas like criminal code, human rights, Islamic criminal code, preparation of charge sheet, search and criminal investigation, public relations, traffic control and management, combating drug smuggling and trafficking, writing reports, forensic studies, checking passports, shooting and civil defense (Peter & Dilip 31). A few years ago, the Ministry of Interior developed and put into process a National Command Center (NCC), situated in northern Doha. The NCC owns sophisticated capabilities in responding to emergency calls, identifying and monitoring security incidents, and providing response coordination within the event of contingencies. The NCC contains a representation of all MOI entities, which functions on twenty four hours a day basis and 365 days a year. Apparently, the NCC goes on expanding its capabilities over time, while at the same time, serving as a key focal point for event response, as well as crisis management and a control center for key incidents. Single female visitors or residents report rising events of harassment by Qatari men, along with other Third Country Nationals (TCNs). As a result, there is a recommendation that women have to avoid traveling alone to market areas past dark, while, at the same time, should never travel in front of a taxi seat. Putting into practice appropriate security measures is capable of reducing the risk of turning out to be a victim (Peter & Dilip 49). Providing public security, deploying a massive police presence throughout the country, while using both uniformed, as well as plain-clothed officers, this happens to be the national attire. Violent occurrences that are terrorist-related happen to be in Qatar, though harassment, as well as attacks against Western targets, took place in the past. A few years ago, a suicide bomber attacked a resident theater visited by westerners using a vehicle borne extemporized explosive device. The attacked effected in the death of the attacker, along with two bystanders, as well as the injury of not less than twelve others. Bearing this in mind, all residents, as well as visitors to Qatar must remain alert and conscious of the momentous continuing threat coming from terrorism within the region. Sometimes, terrorist attacks tend to be indiscriminate, happen with little or no warning, as well as conducted against any Western or western associated target comprising of American, interests along with sites, together with against Qatari interests (Peter & Dilip 60). Qatar has in possession tremendous financial resources used in the improvement of its ability of purchasing top of the line law enforcement equipment, as well as communications systems, while, at the same time procuring both private, as well as governmental training. Nonetheless, a small population prohibits the quantity of manpower that is recruitable, hence the creation of perpetual shortfalls within the public safety, together with law enforcement fields. A number of the uniformed enlisted police forces found in Qatar, who work in the Ministry of Interior happen to be individual third country nationals, or even TCNs coming from other areas of the Middle East, as well as North Africa. On the other hand, police with the rank of the officer, as well as personnel within the Internal Security Force who tend to drive the red vehicles, happen to be Qataris. As a result, this combination of nationalities within the public safety field tends to present challenges of command, communication and control for the Qatari national leadership. Therefore, it is impossible to expect customer service, investigative skills and response in the EU, Australia, or even in North American forces of police. English language skills of initial responders might be wanting. Depending on traffic density, along with other precedence, police response times within Doha tend to vary from five to thirty minutes or even more. However, response times are capable of being even longer for the duration of local religious holidays such as Ramadan, along with weekends, and during darkness hours. The presence of key occurrences might lead to blocked roadways, thereby preventing responders from reaching at a scene. Nonetheless, Qatari police officers are normally professional, cooperative, as well as courteous when reacting to American community demands for assistance, especially when helping and arbitrating traffic accidents, along with infractions (Peter & Dilip 69). Qatari Police officers, especially Patrol Officers, Traffic police and Public Premises, are normally passive in terms of practicing their duties in serving and protection. There are a number of them that tend to be overly complacent, as well as not being fully alert within their posts; are short of training to western standards, while lacking proper equipment for the duties assigned to them. For instance, Police Officers are in most cases, assigned to locations exclusively as a visual or psychological deterrence, without necessarily performing response or occurrence management functions. Apparently, there is no existence of neighborhood associations as it is in Western or U.S. terms; nonetheless, the majority of residential compounds inhabited by USG, as well as expat personnel employ local security guards who are under contract along with the compound’s management. The majority of compounds tend to have varying degrees of physical, along with technical security systems, comprising of various kinds of access control, CCTVs, vehicle placards or stickers, obstacle systems, and other countermeasures. A number of compounds have local police assigned for providing deterrence or response (Peter & Dilip 78). However, there are a number of measure undertaken in the improvement of this situation; for instance early on in 2010, the local print media came up with a report concerning the creation of a program of pilot community policing. The initiation of this program was by the MOI and Al Fazaa i.e. neighborhood police. Apart from that, in the recent past, the GOQ endorsed legislation allowing private security companies to make an application for arming permits for their security officers. This effort aims at privatization of some security functions while lightening the rising burden on the police force that is continuously struggling with the recruitment and retention issues. Nonetheless, the requirements for getting permits tend to be numerous hence it is unclear at this time whether any private security companies have achieved any success in obtaining endorsement for non-governmental security personnel to arm. Furthermore, Qatar’s law enforcement has advanced in recent years by being heavily dependent on innovative technology in leveraging manpower shortfalls. This puts the Qatar government in front of its national when it comes to technology-based law security, as well as law enforcement; nonetheless, Qatar still lacks the skillful manpower, as well as experience in investigating complicated kinds of fraud to fully meet all of the law enforcement contests it faces. The overall crime rate continues to be moderately low compared to the U.S., as well as other Western standards (Peter & Dilip 101). How they reached the smarts crimes level The Qatari police have succeeded in reaching the smart crime’s level through their courts as discussed below. There are two separate State Security Court panels, each of them having three justices that hear crimes against state security or those cases the Council of Ministers refers to it. Initially trials within the State Security Court took place within closed session although eventually open to the press and others. Based on the judgment of the Department of State they do not meet international standards for fair trials. There is a deficiency of political will, as well as motivation in enforcing the law among the Qatari police force with the selection of law enforcement agents being on the basis of personal trust-based relationships, along with connections instead of on professional criteria. Nonetheless, the police is under scrutiny by the Ministry of Interior, together with the state security forces. Apparently, there are no reports indicating that impunity and corruption concerning security forces, this gets credit from the effective mechanisms applied by the government in investigating and punishing abuse. Even so, the investigative abilities, as well as response effectiveness of the police to citizens grievances get recognition to be impacted by personal connections, along with familial ties, otherwise referred to in Qatar as Wasta (Peter & Dilip 124). The law forbids arbitrary arrest, as well as detention; nonetheless, the police have the discretion of arresting persons on the basis of minimal suspicion. The authorities charge suspects in 48 hours with presentation of suspects to the Attorney General in 24 hours of arrest. The decision by the Attorney General follows deciding whether to detain the suspect for up to a maximum of 4 days, whereby the suspect appears before a judge, who might order the suspect set free or held in custody awaiting trial. This is subsequent to judges extending pretrial detention for at least one week, thereby allowing the authorities in conducting investigations or ordering the release of the suspect via bail. The accused has a right to legal representation during the process with no provisions for availing legal counsel to indigents found at state expense. Those suspects detained within security cases get access to counsel; nonetheless, they might be detained indefinitely when under investigation (Peter & Dilip 125). The judiciary system in Qatar tends to be independent with the majority of the judges being foreign nationals holding a residence permit given by the civil authorities thereby holding their positions at the pleasure of the Government. The number of citizen judges is rising since the Amir is responsible of appointing all judges for 3-year terms that are renewable. The two forms of courts comprise of the Adlea courts, which has authority in commercial, criminal matters, national security and all forms of trafficking consisting of drugs, persons and contraband. On the other hand, the Sharia courts have authority over family, civil cases, inheritance, wrongful jury and deportation. The law offers opportunities for the founding of ad hoc state security courts; though there is no presentation of cases before these courts since their inception; they have not been eliminated formally by law thereby remaining an option. As a result, defendants tried by all courts tend to have the right of appealing, the Appeals Court happens to be the highest in the country. Criminal cases undergo trial in two to three months after detention of suspects. Suspects, whether citizens of not, have a right to bail, except in instances of violent crime; foreigners charged with minor crimes might be released unto a citizen sponsor, with them being prohibited from leaving the country until the settlement of the case. However, defendants in the civil courts have the right of representation by defense attorneys. Muslim, as well as non-Muslim litigants has the opportunity of requesting the Sharia courts to assume authority in family, commercial, as well as civil cases. Although trials in both the Adlea, along with the Sharia courts are public, the presiding judge is capable of closing the courtroom to the public in instances that the case is sensitive (Peter & Dilip 133). The law forbids torture, and there are no allegations of torture caused by security forces though unconfirmed allegations suggest that a number of defendants undergo tortured while in the hands of the police; allegations denied by government officials. The Government of Qatar administers the majority of corporal punishment stipulated by Islamic law; however, it does not permit the taking place of amputation. In Qatar, the administration of punishments takes place privately with the majority of organizations being prohibited from visiting the prisons except for the International Committee of the Red Cross. Nonetheless, there are reports that prison conditions normally meet international standards with women held separately from men, while, at the same time, juveniles held separately from adults. On the other hand, pretrial detainees tend to be held separately from convicted prisoners (Peter & Dilip 139). Work Cited: Peter C. Kratcoski, Dilip K. Das. Police Education and Training in a Global Society. Kent: Lexington Books, 2007. Read More