Dubai Police bicycle unit arrest 83 in 18 months

The 26-member team patrol La Mer, City Walk, Deira Souq, Bur Dubai, JBR, Al Muraqqabat and Al Raqqa

The unit has arrested 83 people since its creation last year. Leslie Pableo / The National 

More than 80 people have been arrested by Dubai Police’s bicycle patrol unit over the last 18 months, officials have announced.

The 26-member team played a pivotal role in helping fight crime and assisting members of the public, according to Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri.

The units patrol areas in the city including La Mer, City Walk, Deira Souq, Bur Dubai, JBR, Muraqqabat, and Al Rigga.

Officers from the squad - set up in early 2018 - also police major events such as concerts and horse racing meets.

Corporal Rashid Salim described being able to help a Saudi national who had reported losing his four-year-old son in Downtown Dubai.

“Having the advantage of being able to move swiftly across the area, we located the child in just 30 minutes and handed him over to his father,” he said.

Officer Ahmed Al Saadi also recalled being in the Muraqqabat area when he spotted two men behaving suspiciously.

“We stopped them and inspected their backpacks, and we found robbery tools and bolt cutters,” he said.

“Our investigations showed that they were planning to rob one of the neighbouring shops.”