CEID opens outpost in Industrial Area

The Criminal Evidences & Investigation Department (CEID) of the Ministry of Interior has opened an outpost in the Industrial Area, officials said yesterday.

Bordered by Doha and Rayyan Municipalities, but claimed by none, the 55-street Area is Qatar’s first and oldest industrial zone, and is home to hundreds of factories, garages, warehouses, heavy machinery, and labour camps.

It also remains one of the most densely-populated areas of Qatar with a large number of country’s low-skilled workers housed there.

“The office is operational and has been established to gather information and public grievances related to security and safety matters,” head of investigation at Rayyan Police Station, Capt Khalifa al-Attiyah told Gulf Times.

“The initiative will also act to serve as a public engagement tool,” Capt al-Attiyah added.

Earlier at the event, which was described as by the officials as a first of a series of sessions on “Industrial Area: Constraints and Solutions & Exchange of Views”, a large number of business-owners, garage-owners and representatives of various establishments raised their concerns.

A bi-lingual questionnaire was distributed among the attendees with various questions such as: How do you perceive the presence of security inside Industrial Area? How do you perceive the response to the security related complaints? What are the services not available? What are the procedures you have taken to secure your company or shop?

Foremost among the security concerns participants raised included rising alcohol consumption in the area to lack of security cameras and street lights leading to crimes.

“Home-brewed alcohol consumption has been on the rise during the past three years. There seems to be organised mafia behind it. This should be looked into,” one participant urged the CEID.

An overwhelming number of participants complained about the poor road conditions, lack of street lighting, mounds of trash and hundreds of abandoned vehicles, which in particular, was the single biggest sticking point.

These however, attendees were told, related to various other agencies such as municipalities and traffic department, etc.

“The issues raised here will be looked into … of course all parties, the municipalities, the ministries, the Traffic Department will be involved,” CEID officials said. But businesses must play their part as well, they said.

For example, the issue of security guards not being professional was explained from a security point of view as not something “helpful” to any party.

“The owner or the employer, hiring a security guard should know the professional skills of the guard. Often they don’t even know if he is up to the task of securing whatever he has been assigned to guard,” Capt al-Attiyah said.

Photocaption: Ministry officials with Capt al-Attiyah (second right) at the interactive session