JUVENILE CRIMES ON THE RISE
By Lina Abdul Rahman (Special Report)
Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates
Sept 23 2005
DUBAI/SHARJAH – Juvenile crimes committed by youngsters in the age
group of 11 to 17 years in the UAE are on the rise, and psychologists
attribute the increase to broken families, cross culture marriage,
illiteracy among both parents as well as pressure and influence of
corrupt and notorious peers.
Further, lack of direction and the will to achieve, primarily
among the UAE national youth who hail from families with strong
financial backgrounds, and easy access to educational institutions
and conveniences in life, are all factors forcing the youth, specially
teenagers, to stray and become a nuisance to both families and society.
Psychologists claim that lack of regular open dialogue between parents
and their children, and weak family ties, are among strong reasons
leading the youth to take the wrong path in life.
According to statistics, 49 per cent of juveniles in Dubai are not
given enough time or attention by parents, and are not properly
looked after because of their busy lives. Another 26 per cent live
with divorced parents, and nine per cent live with separated parents
who are not legally divorced.
“Family stability is a strong factor ensuring the success of children
in their lives,” says a psychologist in Dubai.
Bushra Qaed, a psychiatrist and Director of the Juvenile Department
at the General Directorate for Punitive and Corrective Establishments
of Dubai Police, disclosed: “Last year, 35 juvenile delinquents of
12 different nationalities were admitted to the Juvenile Department
at the General Directorate for Punitive and Corrective Establishments
of Dubai Police. Of these, 49 per cent were UAE Nationals, 11 per cent
had no nationality, 9 per cent were from Pakistan, while the rest were
from India, Britain, Egypt, Yemen, Iraq, Somalia, Iran and Armenia.”
The department receives juvenile delinquents aged 11 to 17 years
after a court order is filed against them, Qaed explained, pointing
out that robbery continues to dominate the crimes committed by the
youth leading them to juvenile homes in Dubai.
“Robbery accounts for 65 per cent of the crimes committed by
UAE juveniles, followed by 12 per cent for kidnapping, rape and
indulging in homosexual acts. Statistics have proved that UAE juvenile
delinquents mainly indulge in robbery and theft to satisfy their
quest for endless luxuries in life which is probably beyond their
reach and not affordable with the limited pocket money they receive
at home from parents.”
Meanwhile, the situation in Sharjah is not very different as the
number of admitted juvenile delinquents at the Social Care Unit run
by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is increasing, and is
expected to rise in the future.
Ahmed Mohammed Abu Taha, a social worker at the Social Care Unit in
Sharjah, refers to the situation as ‘alarming,’ since the number of
juveniles enrolled at the unit is increasing annually.
“The number of juvenile delinquents last year was 180 including
both UAE nationals and expatriates, but the current figures to date
(August) has already touched 120 and a further increase is expected
by the end of the year.”
A study last year showed that 42 per cent of the 76 juvenile
delinquents were admitted to the unit through court orders for robbery
cases, and 36 among them were UAE nationals and the remaining 40
were of various other nationalities. Nine per cent juveniles were
homosexuals.
The study indicated that nine per cent were charged with rape (11
UAE nationals and five from other nationalities), eight per cent for
fights (nine UAE nationals and six from other nationalities), seven
per cent for illegal driving without licence (eight UAE nationals
and five from other nationalities), six per cent for abetting crime,
four per cent for rape of minors, two per cent for killing, and one
expatriate female held on prostitution charges.
Out of the 180 juvenile delinquents enrolled last year, 175 were
males and only five were females, said Abu Taha.
According to Qaed, the Dubai Juvenile Department has this year to date
received 31 juveniles. “Prior to 2003, sexual assault was the second
most major crime committed by youth, but at present drug addiction is
turning out to be a strong factor leading the youth to the juvenile
department,” she said.
Qaed mentioned that some of the juvenile delinquents accused of
various criminal activities have shown repentance, while a majority
of the youth seem unaffected and would not repent repeating the crime
again if given a chance. However, the juvenile homes seem to be a
place liked by many youth since it gives them security cover and are
offered guidance and focus in life. The juveniles feel good about
having a communication channel with psychologists who help them see
the right from the wrong and guide them towards rehabilitation.
Juvenile homes in Dubai and Sharjah seem big enough to accommodate
the juvenile delinquents, a large number of whom are UAE nationals and
are kept in these homes from periods ranging from three months to 10
years depending on the severity of crime committed and improvements
observed in their attitude towards life. But, expatriates put up in
these homes are deported soon after completion of the term.
Commenting on the main rehabilitation and treatment programmes offered
to the juveniles, Abu Taha explains that the Social Care Unit in
Sharjah, established in 1981, offers juvenile delinquents various
social, psychological and health services in order to build and shape
up their characters while working hard to explore their latent talent
and potential in learning and acquiring more knowledge in various
fields in order to be productive members of society.
“Our endeavour is to offer the juvenile delinquents the best levels of
services and to ensure they live a comfortable life. We try to approach
them in a friendly way in order to know why they committed their
harmful act bringing harm to themselves and to others,” Abu Taha said.
Abu Taha said a number of symposia and lectures are organised regularly
to guide them. In addition, training and vocational education to
develop their talent and skills are also organised at the juvenile
homes.
“We also invite Islamic preachers to enlighten the juvenile delinquents
and to strengthen their faith in their religion,” he said.
“Juvenile homes can only do that much to deal with this problem,
and parents have to shoulder their responsibilities towards their
children and try and understand them and their problems,” he said,
adding that parents should refrain from adopting wrong approach while
dealing with teenagers problems, which are mostly under the influence
of bad company.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
49 per cent of juveniles in Dubai are not given enough time or
attention by parents, and are not properly looked after because of
their busy lives.
26 per cent live with divorced parents, and nine per cent live with
separated parents who are not legally divorced.
Of the 180 juvenile delinquents taken in last year, 175 were males
and five were females.
According to a study, nine per cent were charged with rape (11 UAE
nationals and five from other nationalities), eight per cent for
fights (nine UAE nationals and six from other nationalities), seven
per cent for illegal driving without licence (eight UAE nationals
and five from other nationalities), six per cent for abetting crime,
four per cent for rape of minors, two per cent for killing, and one
expatriate female held on prostitution charges.
Before 2003, 2003, sexual assault was the second most major crime
committed by youth, but at present drug addiction is turning out to
be a strong factor leading the youth to the juvenile department.