GOVERNMENT OF DUBAI
Dubai
Police Law of 1966[1]
ــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ
We, Rashid bin Saeed Al
Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai and its Dependencies, do hereby issue this Law.
Preamble
____________
This Law will be cited as the “Dubai Police Law of 1966”.
For the purposes of this Law, the following
words and expressions will have the meaning indicated opposite each of them
unless the context implies otherwise:
|
His
Highness the Ruler: |
His
Highness the Ruler of Dubai and its Dependencies. |
|
Police
Commander: |
The officer
appointed by His Highness the Ruler to perform the duties and exercise the
powers of the police commander, or any person acting for the Police Commander
in his absence under this Law. |
|
Inspector: |
Any Police
staff member holding the rank of inspector regardless of his grade, including a deputy Inspector. |
|
Non-commissioned
Officer: |
Any Police staff member holding the rank of lance corporal or
corporal. |
|
Police
: |
The Dubai police force established under this Law. |
|
High-ranking
Police Officer: |
Any Police staff member holding the rank of assistant Police
commissioner or a higher rank. |
Part One
Organisation of the Police
______________________
A force named the “Dubai Police” will be
established in the Emirate of Dubai and its dependencies.
1.
The Police will be assigned the prevention, investigation, and
collection of evidence of crimes, arresting perpetrators of crimes, bringing
legal proceedings against them and pleading in these proceedings, safe confinement
of prisoners, maintenance of the public order and safety of persons and
property, and performing any other duties assigned to the Police pursuant to
any other laws in force in Dubai.
2.
The Police may be assigned the execution of other warrants and orders
and service of summons and notices issued by courts.
3.
The duties of the Police will be performed in accordance with laws in
force in Dubai or, in the absence of these laws, pursuant to the instructions
of His Highness the Ruler.
1.
The Police will be composed of a number of High-ranking Police Officers,
Inspectors, Non-commissioned Officers, and other Police staff members as may be
determined, from time to time, by His Highness the Ruler.
2.
High Highness the Ruler may, subject to any conditions, appoint any officer
or other person to perform all or any of the duties and exercise all or any of the
powers of a High-ranking Police Officer or any Inspector.
3.
A Police staff member may exercise the powers of another Police staff
member holding a rank or grade lower than his own.
1.
The Police Commander will be assigned the command, management, and
organisation of the Police, and will be responsible for monitoring expenses and
supplies of the Police.
2.
The Police Commander may, at any time, appoint persons fit for service
as Police staff members to fill the vacancies in the approved organisational
structure of the Police.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Commander
may not appoint any High-ranking Police Officer or Inspector without the approval
of His Highness the Ruler.
3.
The Police Commander may suspend, discharge, dismiss, or demote any Police
staff member if the Police Commander is sufficiently satisfied that this Police
staff member is negligent, incompetent, or generally unfit to perform his
duties.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
High-ranking Police Officer or Inspector may be dismissed, discharged or
demoted without the approval of His Highness the Ruler.
4.
The Police Commander must act in accordance with any instructions issued
to him, from time to time, by His Highness the Ruler in respect of the Police or
the performance by the Police of its duties and responsibilities.
5.
The Police Commander may directly contact the Police forces or any other
security authorities with respect to any matter that could, in the Police
Commander’s view, affect the safety of the Emirate of Dubai and its
Dependencies or affect the personal safety, or safety of the family of His
Highness the Ruler.
6.
In the absence of the Police Commander, the deputy Police Commander will
perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Police Commander, and in the absence
of the deputy Police Commander, the Police officer holding the highest rank
below the deputy Police Commander will perform these duties and exercise these
powers.
Part Two
Joining the Service
_______________________
A person applying to join the Police service must pass a medical test,
and in the event of approval of his application, he will join the service of
the Police for a period of two (2) years, extendable on expiry with the approval
of the Police Commander.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the employment of High-ranking Police
Officers or Inspectors may only be extended with the approval of His Highness
the Ruler.
1.
A person who joins the service of the Police must swear allegiance to
His Highness the Ruler.
Signing the Declaration:
2.
A person who joins the service of the Police pursuant to this Law must
sign a written declaration in the prescribed form, in presence of the Police
Commander, or in presence of a Police staff member authorised for this purpose by
the Police Commander or by another Police staff member authorised by the
Commander.
Taking the Oath by Senior Police Staff
Members:
3.
Police staff members holding the rank of deputy Inspector or a higher
rank must take the prescribed oath in presence of the Police Commander.
4.
For the purposes of this Article, the word “prescribed” will mean
“prescribed by the Police Commander with the approval of His Highness the Ruler”.
1.
All persons employed by the Police at the effective date of this Law will
be deemed to be appointed in accordance with its provisions.
Part 3
Watchmen
_______
Where the Police Commander receives from a person, or group of persons, a
request to appoint private guards for the protection of real or other property,
the Police Commander may appoint, for the requested period, any persons who are
fit to work as private guards. These persons will be known as watchmen, and will be appointed
to provide this specific private service.
A person requesting the services of a watchman must pay the watchman his
wage in addition to any amounts deemed necessary by the Police Commander to
cover the cost of the uniform and equipment of the watchman, or of any other expenses.
These amounts and their method of payment will be agreed upon by the
Police Commander and the concerned parties, and in the absence of such agreement,
the instructions of the Police Commander will apply.
A person appointed as a watchman must submit a statement in the form prescribed
by the Police Commander and must sign this statement in presence of a High-ranking
Police Officer. The watchman will be considered as a Police staff member for
all purposes, and will be governed by the provisions of this Law with respect
to discipline, powers, and immunity.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a watchman will not be entitled to claim any
payments from the public funds of the Police.
The Police Commander, or any Police staff member authorised by the
Police Commander, may terminate the service of any watchman in any of the
following cases:
a.
where the services of the watchman are no longer needed;
b.
where the Police Commander is sufficiently satisfied that the watchman
is negligent, incompetent, or unfit to perform his duties; or
c.
where the watchman commits an offense under this Law.
Powers and Duties of Police Staff Members
____________
A Police staff member will be granted all powers, privileges, and
immunities and must use the best of his skills and abilities to perform all
duties and responsibilities assigned or related to his position as a Police
staff member in accordance with this Law or any other law in force in Dubai.
Disciplinary Actions and Penalties
_____________________________
A Police staff member will be deemed in breach of the Police regulations
and disciplinary rules if he:
a.
is negligent in performing his duties;
b.
attends a parade or performs his duties while he is improperly dressed
or in an unclean or untidy condition, or while his uniform or equipment are
unclean or untidy;
c.
fails to attend a parade, or to report for duty on time and in the
designated place;
d.
fails to disclose his indebtedness, when requested;
e.
disturbs the peace in barracks or Police station;
f.
malingers or feigns illness with the intention of avoiding his duty;
g.
behaves improperly with a member of the public;
h.
fails to pay due respect to Police staff members of higher rank;
i.
negligently casuses a shooting in a public place;
j.
demonstrates in words or conduct insubordination to a Police staff
member of higher rank;
k.
is absent without leave;
l.
physically or otherwise assults anyone of higher rank;
m. deliberately disobeys any lawful order issued
by anyone of higher rank;
n.
negligently handles, or deliberately causes damage to, any clothes,
tools, or equipment issued to him;
o.
becomes unfit to perform his duties due to abuse of alcohol or drugs;
p.
allows, through his negligence, the escape of a prisoner in his custody;
q.
commits an act that is considered an offence during the holy month of
Ramadan;
r.
prepares, or aids and abets in preparing a false statement or entry in any
official document or record;
s.
deletes, or aids and abets in deleting any statement or entry from any
official document or record; or
t.
commits any other act that prejudices compliance with the Police regulations
and discipline.
Only the Police Commander, or a High-ranking Police Officer will conduct
an investigation to verify the authenticity of any charges of committing the offenses
stipulated in Article (15) of this Law. Where the investigator finds that the
accused is guilty, he may impose one or more of the following penalties:
1.
reprimand;
2.
severe reprimand;
3.
deduction of salary and allowances for a period not exceeding twenty-one
(21) days;
4.
a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty Riyals (QDR 250);
5.
arrest for a period not exceeding fourteen (14) days;
6.
deprivation of seniority;
7.
demotion; or
8.
dismissal.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, only the Police Commander may conduct
trials in respect of such charges, in either of the following cases:
a.
Where the accused is a Police staff member who is a High-ranking Police
Officer or an Inspector; or
b.
Where a High-ranking Police Officer conducts an investigation to verify
the charges and finds that the offender must be punished by any of the
following penalties:
1.
dismissal;
2.
arrest; or
3.
a fine that exceeds one hundred Riyals (QDR 100),
in which case, the investigator will refer
the case to the Police Commander for trial.
Subject to the provisions of any regulations issued in pursuance of this
Law, if a Police staff member commits a breach of the Police regulations and
discipline, he may be arrested by any Police staff member of higher rank, and
detained in a police station or detention centre based on the findings of an investigation.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Non-commissioned Officer may not be arrested
for such offence without the approval of the Police Commander, and a Police staff
member holding a rank higher than Non-commissioned Officer may not be arrested
without the approval of His Highness the Ruler.
In addition to any other penalty prescribed by this Law, a Police staff
member who loses, or causes damage or harm to, any arms, clothes, or other government
property may be ordered to pay compensation for the loss of, or damage or harm
to, any of these items or things.
If a Police staff member is accused of an omission or act that
constitutes an offence under Article (15) of this Law and under the provisions
of any other law in force in Dubai, his acquittal or punishment pursuant to
Articles (15) and (16) of this Law will not exempt him from trial and punishment,
if found guilty, by a competent court, under such other law, for the same act
or omission.
The Police Commander may, based on the findings of a trial, order suspension
of Police staff members accused of acts or omissions punishable under any law in
force in Dubai. If a Police staff member is imprisoned for any period based on
the findings of a trial, the Police Commander may order dismissal of that
Police staff member.
A Police staff member will not be entitled to any salary or allowances for
any day on which he is absent without leave, suspended, detained, or imprisoned.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Police Commander may, as he deems
appropriate, allow the payment of no more than fifty per cent (50%) of the entitlements
of any Police staff member suspended or arrested pending trial, for the period from
the date of suspension to the date of acquittal or conviction of the Police
staff member, as the case may be. Where the Police staff member is acquitted,
his entitlements for this period will be paid to him in full.
Offences Related to Police Staff Members
___________________________
A person who deliberately gives a false answer to any question in a statement
or declaration signed pursuant to this Law will be deemed to have committed an
offence, and will be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding six
(6) months, a fine not exceeding one thousand Riyals (QDR 1000), or both
penalties, and will be dismissed from the Police.
A Police staff member who is absent without leave for a period of not
less than twenty one (21) days will be deemed to be a deserter and will be
punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding one (1) year, a fine not
exceeding one thousand five hundred Riyals (QDR 1,500), or both penalties, and will
be dismissed from the Police.
A person who knowingly buys, exchanges, or receives from any Police staff
member or deserter any arms, ammunition, clothes, tools, or equipment belonging
to the Police or intended for use by the Police, or who fails to provide
reasonable justification for having any such arms, ammunition, clothes, tools,
or equipment in his possession, may be arrested without warrant, will be deemed
to have committed an offence, and will be punished by imprisonment for a period
not exceeding one (1) year, a fine not exceeding one thousand and five hundred
Riyals (QDR 1,500), or both penalties. The seized items will be confiscated.
Any person:
a.
who is not a Police staff member but wears any uniform or clothes, or
carries any equipment or tools, that are similar to those intended for use by
the Police in a manner that leads the public to believe that he is a Police
staff member, or who claims to be a Police staff member; or
b.
who claims to be a Police staff member and performs an act or makes a statement
that is likely to lead the public to believe that he is a Police staff member,
may be arrested without warrant, will be
deemed to have committed an offence, and will be punished by imprisonment for a
period not exceeding six (6) months, a fine not exceeding one thousand Riyals (QDR
1,000), or both penalties.
Any person whose service with the Police is terminated and who upon
termination does not return any arms, clothes, or supplies previously delivered
to him for the purposes of performing his duties will be deemed to have
committed an offence and will be punished by imprisonment for a period not
exceeding one (1) month or a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty Riyals
(QDR 250). If he has deliberately or negligently lost or caused damage to any
of the above mentioned items, he will be punished by imprisonment for a period
not exceeding six (6) months, a fine not exceeding one thousand and five
hundred Riyals (QDR 1,500), or both penalties, and will be ordered to pay the
costs of repair or replacement of these damaged or lost items.
Miscellaneous
_____________
1.
His Highness the Ruler may issue any regulations related to any matters that
require regulation pursuant to this Law.
2.
The Police Commander may, with the approval of His Highness the Ruler,
establish regulations related to the following:
a.
discipline and regulation of the Police;
b.
promotion of Police staff members;
c.
maintenance of property and general supplies delivered and intended for
use by the Police; and
d.
any other matter which falls within his powers in accordance with this
Law.
Rashid
bin Saeed Al Maktoum
Ruler of Dubai and its
Dependencies
Issued on 1 March 1966
Corresponding to
9 Thu al-Qidah 1385 A.H.
©2015 The Supreme Legislation Committee in the
Emirate of Dubai
[1]Every effort has been made to produce an
accurate and complete English version of this legislation. However, for the purpose of its
interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic
text. In case of conflict the Arabic
text will prevail.