Bahrain Police move forward beyond achieving sustainability … human rights promoting programmes & initiatives are the core of security work.
Police Media Centre
Bahrain Police forces are known, throughout their rich history of over 100 years, for the spirit of achievements that all citizens and residents witness through national security and stability. The milestones have been achieved with the support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
The achievements aren’t limited to fieldwork but went beyond that through humanitarian and human rights programmes and initiatives to promote human rights as the core of security work. The national project of alternative sentencing and the open prisons programme are two examples. They represent the human rights and civilised values of the vision of HM the King. Within this framework, the instructions of His Excellency Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa come to ensure that security and stability are based on community partnership to ensure their sustainability. 2023 witnessed many security and stability indications; mainly, drug-related cases have remained the same in the last three years, under 3% of total criminal cases. Training indicates competent performance, as 1,126 training courses were held for 14,533 of the Interior Ministry’s affiliates and other organisations.
Alternative Sentencing: Forward-Looking Human Right Model
During 2023, the General Directorate of Verdict Enforcement and Alternative Sentencing worked to promote its milestones and advanced initiatives as part of the alternative sentencing project and open prisons programme that are part of the bright civilised, human rights and humanitarian sides of the Kingdom of Bahrain. It is also a sign of the accomplishment of HM the King era of reinforcing justice and protecting social cohesion.
From 2018 to 2023, the beneficiaries of the alternative sentencing project reached 5,828, while the Director-General of Verdict Enforcement and Alternative Sentencing unveiled this year the slogan of the open prisons programme: “Mistake, Reform, Success”. Meanwhile, the “Fael Khair” initiative to help those in jail for unpaid loans covered 132 cases through the help of donors, with an increase of 159% compared with last year.
In the same context, the General Directorate of Reformation and Rehabilitation received the
American Correctional Association’s accreditation after fulfilling all global criteria. Also, as part of the cooperation between the Interior Ministry and Education Ministry to provide educational services and programmes for inmates, 180 inmates were registered at different higher education programmes.
Maan, New Era of Youth Protection
HE Interior Minister visited the United States in June 2023 to participate in the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the D.A.R.E. International and launched the peaceful coexistence and extremism-combating curriculum as part of the ongoing modernisation of the Maan (together) programme against violence and addiction. HE Interior Minister asserted the role of the Interior Minister in creating a generation that is more resilient to extremism through tolerance and peaceful coexistence messages. The programme teaches cybersecurity for all educational levels to enhance awareness of children.
Security Performance in Numbers
The rescue (Najda) patrols dealt with 31,704 cases until November 2023, while the main operations room received 173,402 cases and the emergency hotline “999” received 2,868,353 calls. The Operations Directorate offered 12,212 community services, representing 66% of community service assistance calls. In the same context, the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security dealt from 2021 to 2023 with around 284 anti-corruption cases, including 15 cases with criminal suspicions referred by the Cabinet and mentioned by the National Audit Office. The National Financial Intelligence Centre continued with its role in receiving cases and reports on suspicious transactions, launching investigations and holding awareness campaigns.
National Civil Protection Platform & Coast Guard
HE Interior Minister launched the National Civil Protection Platform on November 3 during a visit to the General Directorate of Civil Defence as a distinctive awareness framework. The Platform’s website traffic reached more than 30,000, while it witnesses a high demand to register for the civil defence volunteering programme. Meanwhile, the Civil Defence dealt with more than 12,524 fire cases, mainly due to short circuits, negligence and high temperatures. The civil defence handled 6,465 assistance cases and organised various general safety awareness lectures. In maritime security, the Coast Guard carried out 963 search and rescue operations, dealt with 128 maritime accidents and responded to 23 distress calls, bringing the total number to 1,114 cases.
Decline in Traffic Accidents and Violations
The General Directorate of Traffic announced a reduction in severe accidents by 17% and minor accidents by 51%, which led to a decrease in traffic accidents by 7%. There was also a reduction in speeding violations by 32% and the use of mobile phones while driving by 17%. Meanwhile, the number of in-use vehicles reached 751,000.
NPRA Launches Remarkable e-services
The Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) launched, in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry and the Information & eGovernment Authority, the service of issuing travel permits for children of Bahrainis who were born abroad and those with lost or damaged passports through the national portal, Bahrain.bh. It also launched the virtual renewal of the residency permits of foreign wives of Bahrainis. Meanwhile, the number of passengers this year reached more than 28 million.
International Anti-Human Trafficking Recognition
The General Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science dealt with many cases, including 1,039 cases by the Anti-Narcotics Directorate. At the same time, the directorate won the second best in field, information and operation cooperation award of the Arab Interior Minister Council. Also, the General Directorate contributed to Bahrain maintaining its top-tier ranking for the sixth consecutive year in the US State Department’s report on Trafficking in Persons (TIP). In the case of awareness, 220 lectures were held for 4,426 participants.
Advanced Training Methods
The Special Security Force developed performance through advanced training methods. At the same time, the General Directorate of Guard continued using modern technology and improved the workforce's skills through training programmes.
National Cybersecurity Management
The National Cyber Security Centre designed the “Thiqa” Information Security Programme to protect organisations at the national level with a focus on vital sectors to develop national competencies and improve Bahrain’s regional and international cybersecurity ranking.
Security Preparedness & High Performance
The Police Aviation carried out around 416 aviation search and rescue patrols. The force fleet was equipped with high-tech cameras. At the same time, the police directorates continued to carry out their security and general order protection roles through improving preparedness and the competencies of security forces. The Southern Police Directorate took a step further toward the digital transformation efforts by designing “QR” to get public feedback about provided security services. The Capital Governorate Police Directorate carried out 567 campaigns to inspect old and deserted buildings that could promote crime activities. The Northern Governorate Police continued to encourage crime prevention methods.
Customs Introduces New Mechanisms
Customs Affairs continued to develop its supervisory methods and provide facilities and services by speeding up customs procedures, including introducing new mechanisms related to empty containers and granting more economic operator certificates to promote partnerships between the government and private sectors. Customs Affairs handled various cases, including confiscating multiple narcotics and reporting 16 tax evasion cases.
Governorates Promote Partnership
The governorates continued to promote community partnership and interaction of citizens, and the Southern governorate worked to enable digital transformation through various projects, including a smartphone app and a virtual Majlis. The Muharraq Governorate awarded health city accreditation for two cities, Busaiteen and Al Sayah, by the World Health Organisation. The Northern Governorate received the same WHO accreditation for Aali city, and HE Interior Minister launched the Healthy Cities Project in the Capital Governorate.
Development Projects
The Office of the Assistant Undersecretary for Planning and Organisation followed up on various development projects, including an electronic programme to support families of inmates eligible for social assistance services. It also worked on a unified security platform for all Interior Ministry systems using Artificial Intelligence techniques.
MOI Team Wins Pace Sticking Competition
The Royal Academy of Police (RAP) continued its advanced educational and training role, in which its annual summer camp achieved various milestones. Also, in another international accomplishment, the RAP Pace Sticking team won the World Pace Sticking Competition for the tenth time since the team began participating in the tournament in 2009. Bahrain also won the Best Team Leader Award 2023 in the Royal Military Academy “Sandhurst” event.
National Ambulance Responses for 40,000 Cases
All National Ambulance vehicles have been equipped with high-tech devices that meet international standards, including a tracking system for better safety procedures and rescue operations. The surveillance cameras and the geographical security system in the ambulances are connected to the operations room of the National Ambulance Centre. From the beginning of January until October 2023, the National Ambulance responded to about 40,249 cases and participated in many awareness programmes.
Human Resources Directorate Launches AI Project
In 2023, the Human Resources Directorate won an excellence award and launched an artificial intelligence project to communicate with deaf individuals in the operating rooms. It also promoted digital transformation by holding the second virtual Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing Forum for Arab Youth, establishing the Institute for Information Systems and Artificial Intelligence Applications at the Royal Academy of Police, and implementing the Governance and Government Excellence Standards Project. To promote creativity, the Police Band continued to enhance the performance of its affiliates, develop music programmes, and provide the latest equipment. The band participated in 163 events.
Bahrainouna Marks 4th Anniversary
The Executive Office of the National Plan to Promote the Spirit of Belonging to the Nation and Reinforce the Values of Nationalism “Bahrainouna” celebrated this year its 4th anniversary while it launched “Bahraini Camera” initiative at the Bahrain Film Festival and participated in several events.
International Sports Achievements
Interior Ministry sports teams under the Public Security Sports Association have achieved honourable successes and achievements inside Bahrain and abroad in archery, tennis, show jumping, martial arts, weightlifting, bodybuilding, and others. The teams won 142 prizes and medals.
Police Media, Professional Media Content
The General Directorate of Media and Security Culture worked throughout 2023 to reinforce performance and provide professional media content, releasing 1,168 press releases in Arabic and translating them into English. It produced 418 videos, 683 radio productions, and many publications. Meanwhile, the followers of the Interior Ministry account on the “X” social media platform reached 492,000.
