The “Makkah without Crime” project, launched a few months ago by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, will reduce crime by 50 percent in the holy city, said Major General Ibrahim Al-Hamzi, Director of Makkah Police. The project also urges residents to observe the sanctity of the holy city by keeping it crime-free, he said. Al-Hamzi said a number of women with university degrees have been employed to work for the police in administrative jobs. The police have also approached the Ministry of Civil Service to create jobs for women. He said security officials are also on the lookout for gangs from Arab countries that enter the Kingdom on Umrah visas with the intention to rob people. Al-Hamzi added that plain-clothes policemen are monitoring taxicabs during the Umrah and Haj seasons to make sure pilgrims are not exploited. Security patrols are also guarding checkpoints and roads leading to Makkah to prevent illegal residents being smuggled into the city. Al-Hamzi said the Police Administration drew up this year's Ramadan plan to ensure the highest level of security and safety for the expected five million Umrah pilgrims, worshippers and visitors to the Grand Mosque. The plan is also meant to ensure the smooth flow of pedestrians to-and-from the Grand Mosque. He said 50,000 security officers have been deployed this year to ensure that pilgrims are able to perform their rituals in peace, particularly on Ramadan 27. He said officers, who have received top-quality training, are prepared to respond in five minutes to crime reports and deal with complicated cases. __
