The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) plans to deploy 35 police patrolling teams across Qatar in a bid to crack down on beggars during the holy month of Ramadan.
The anti-begging drive will be launched in co-ordination with Al Fazaa, Lekhwiya and other departments concerned.
Brigadier Jamal Mohamed al-Kaabi, director, CID, said begging is not a common phenomenon in Qatar. However, some people enter the country, especially during Ramadan, with the intention of begging. They come up with innovative ideas to exploit people’s sympathy, it was observed.
He noted that the patrolling teams, comprising male and female police officers, would be deployed at different locations round-the-clock to curb the
illegal practice.
Other security agencies will co-ordinate with the department to catch beggars. Two hotlines - 33618627 and 2347444 - have also been set up for citizens and expatriates to inform the authorities concerned about beggars.
“They narrate false stories and produce fake medical reports seeking money. Some of them also ask for contributions to build mosques and schools or sponsor orphans in their countries. Some beggars were also caught selling substandard products as a ploy for begging,” said al-Kaabi.
More than 280 beggars were caught last year at mosques, shopping complexes, popular markets and residential areas, said First Lieutenant Abdullah Saad al-Dosari.
Legal action will be taken against those caught indulging in this illegal practice, he added.
Citizens and expatriates have been advised to give donations to authorised charity organisations only so that they could distribute the same to the most deserving sections.
Investigation reports suggest that most people who engage in begging enter Qatar on tourist visas. Some of them also hold residency permits of
neighbouring countries.
“The begging problem is under control in Qatar though beggars resort to new tricks to win the sympathy of people,”
said al-Dosari.