January 7, 2002.

Dubai Police launches Campaign to promote Internet Use

Jacob John, KM Correspondent, Dubai

Dubai Police in co-ordination with Dubai e-Government, launched a public awareness campaign today (January 7, 2002), to promote and encourage the use of the Internet to access the various e-services offered by the Dubai Police website and the Dubai e-Government portal (www.dubai.ae). The awareness campaign was launched by Major General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police and Salem Khamis Al-Shair Director, e-Services Dubai e-Government at a press conference at the Dubai Police Department, yesterday (Sunday, January 6, 2002). The campaign is in keeping with e-Government's aims to popularise the use of e-services among the citizens.

"Dubai Police is one of the foremost government departments in the emirate to take up the challenge to offer e-services to citizens in record time and with remarkable efficiency. It stands as an excellent role model to other departments as it leads by example," said Salim Al Shair. "The credit for this efficiency and competence must go to Major General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, who ensures the success of all operations by leading his team with inspiring dedication and personal enthusiasm. The impressive efficiency of Dubai police has always been a matter of pride for the emirate and with the launch of its comprehensive e-services, we can now look forward to more path breaking initiatives from the department," he added.

The awareness campaign invites citizens to abide by the path of technology and wishes them success as a result of gain in knowledge and information. Aimed at promoting Internet culture among the citizens and popularising the use of e-services, the campaign is expected to make use of various methods including advertisements, one-on-one interviews, news flashes and distribution of promotional material to achieve its objective. In addition, it will also emphasize the methods that can be used to overcome the negative impact of Internet usage, especially among the youth.

Al Shair emphasised the role of e-services in reducing paperwork and maximising efficiency, in addition to being on track with Dubai government's environment vision. "Our primary objective is to provide cost and time efficient services to the citizens of Dubai which will assist them to go about their work with greater competence. By reducing paperwork and offering a whole host of e-services we hope to reduce long queues, cut down on manual time-consuming procedures and offer speedier and more efficient services to the people. This will also lead to a cleaner, pollution free environment," he said.

Currently, the Dubai police website offers citizens several services like information on traffic violations, congestion, safety and security, road maps, contact numbers including the addresses of all police stations in Dubai and precautionary steps to be taken in the event of emergencies. With the help of a smart camera, the public will also be able to see intersections, roads and traffic congestion. This will enable them to take alternative routes and avoid getting stuck in traffic jams.