Abu Dhabi Police has released a warning to residents against beggars who try to take advantage of their generosity and sympathy during Ramadan.
Abu Dhabi Police has posted on social media a new video in which officers said that the phenomenon of begging is one of the most dangerous. The beggars asking for money outside mosques, markets and even on roads told the police.
Police further said the beggars were found cheating people by manipulating them through fake stories that they were needy and wanted help.
As per the police, the beggers usually increase during the holy month of Ramadan as they strive to exploit the generosity of people.
Last year, Abu Dhabi Police detained 179 people who were found begging during Ramadan.
Last month, Abu Dhabi Police also alerted residents against online beggars who ask for assistance through WhatsApp, emails, or other social media platforms.
Police stated that the beggers also sent images of people in deplorable conditions and forged pleading phrases asking for help to support orphans, and underprivileged people, treat sick people or build schools and mosques in poor countries.
As per the authorities, begging is a societal curse that detracts from the civilized notion of any society.
“Begging is an uncivilized act in the community and also a crime in the UAE. The beggars have the possibility for fraud and are out to fool people and cash in on their generosity,” said the police.
“These beggars benefit from people’s sympathy during the holy month by fabricating stories and different stories to get money from them.”
Officers have further explained that the punishment for begging is detention in prison for three months and a fine of not less than Dh5,000 or one of the two punishments. The penalty for organized begging is imprisonment for a tenure of six months and a fine of not less than Dh100,000.
The police force said it had stepped up efforts via an integrated security plan all over the emirate to assure public safety and security and control bad behaviours such as begging.
Special teams were set up to bring out assessments as part of a police crackdown on begging during the holy month of Ramadan.