Old Bastakia

How Dubai Police used technology in the 1970s

Dubai Police have always been a Leader in using technology for enforcing Law and Order. Here's how they put technology to use in the 1970s....

Clamped??!!

Buying the shoes took about an hour - time enough for Dubai Police to Clamp my parked car. Clamped? Nobody gets clamped in Dubai! Now they did.

What to do? Store Owner rings the Police. They say "Come to Naif Police Station". A Taxi ride later I arrive at the Duty Sergeant's desk. He doesn't understand. The Constable explains. Then he understands. "Bring the keys". A large brown paper bag is upended on the Sergeant's desk. Several hundred keys fall out. Sergeant and Corporal begin searching for THE KEY. They find THE KEY. I get a piece of paper to sign. "What's the fine?" I ask. "150 Dirhams" I'm told. The Constable is ordered to take me to my car.

Flashing Lights!

We climb into his Landrover - the old model with no side windows. He switches on the blue flashing light and the siren. Landrover takes off with the Constable's right boot pressed firmly to the floor. Progress through the narrow streets is rapid. A taxi blocks our way. Taxi driver sees the Police Landrover in his rear view mirror and slows. The Constable flashes his headlights. Taxi slows some more. Constable flashes some more. Taxi pulls over onto the sidewalk. So does the Constable - in front of the taxi. Constable jumps down from the Landrover berates the taxi driver. Gives him a ticket - obstructing the Police in the course of their Duty (presumably).

The Dubai Way

Off again with siren blaring and blue light flashing. Arrive at my clamped car. My wife arrives in her car. Constable produces THE KEY. Undoes the padlock on the clamp. Removes the clamp cover. Problem! The Clamp has been made in the Police Workshops. It's held together by a mass of nuts and bolts. Problem! Constable does not have a spanner. Solution! Wife remembers toolkit in back of her car. Finds two spanners that fit. Constable and I start undoing nuts and bolts. We work as a Team. Clamp removed in twenty minutes. Smiles and handshakes all round. A unique experience shared. We are friends! But my wife has learned the ways of Dubai. "You used our tools - what about a discount?" Laughter and smiles all round again. More handshakes. We part company.

Sheikh Rashid