Arab police officials boost security

Arab police and security chiefs ended their 21st conference in Al Ain, approving a number of strategies aimed at tightening security, curbing crime and preventing juvenile delinquency in the Arab countries.

In a final statement, Dr. Ahmed Al Salem, Secretary-General of the Arab Interior Ministers' Council, said the participants had approved a draft information strategy formulated by the General-Secretariat on security awareness and crime prevention. He said the strategy was aimed at enhancing cooperation among Arab security agencies and protecting Arab societies against all types of crime.

The two-day conference concluded on Tuesday with the participants from 22 countries calling for greater cooperation to confront the growing security challenges facing Arab countries.

Arab police officials approved another draft model Arab startegy for reform and discipline on juvenile delinquency prevention. The stategy focused on fighing juvenile delinquency, reforming delinquents and integrating them back into society.

There is also a number of plans in the pipeline aimed at curbing organised crime at all levels. These include a draft model law on the extradition of criminals and wanted persons and a draft for an Arabic language lexicon for narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances suject to international control.

The participants also issued a number of recommendations, including a call for developing the skills of police officials. The recommendations will be submitted to the ministers at their annual meeting in Tunis in January for ratification.

The conference called for periodical meetings to be held by directors of training departments and police colleges and institutes, in conjunction with the Riyadh-based Naif Arab Academy for Security Sciences in Saudi Arabia.

At the end of the conference a number of pioneering police chiefs who served in the Arab world were honoured by high officials who took part in the conference.