A total of 255 beggars have been arrested since the start of Ramadan as part of the Riyadh Police's clampdown against beggary, which is common during the holy month. A spokesman for the Riyadh Police said anti-begging squads have arrested 56 men, 124 women and 75 children in the last four days. The Saudis among the beggars have been transferred to the Ministry of Labor and Social Development while the non-Saudis have been handed over to the anti-begging committee. The spokesman urged the public to refrain from giving alrms to beggars and sympathizing with them as they are a threat to the social and economic security of the country. He called on the people to report cases of begging to the concerned authorities. Beggars tend to be all the more active during Ramadan, mainly outside mosques, shops, and residential areas and near traffic signals.
