The Riyadh Police Passport Department is enforcing new regulation which can deport an expatriate family if any immediate family member is found guilty of a crime. “If one family member is convicted of a crime, the whole family will be deported back to their home country,” said Brigadier Abdullah Abdul Karim, assistant in the Riyadh Passport Office. Several families have already been deported, said Director of Expatriate Follow-Up Department in Makkah. He said the new regulation has been instrumental in curbing the crime rate in Makkah. Makkah Police statisitics state 108 illegal expatriates were arrested for theft, drug dealing or possession of drugs during the first 10 days of Ramadan last year. According to Article 10, the rule only applies to specific crimes such as theft, drinking alcohol and prostitution. Makkah police spokesperson, Abdul Mohsen Al-Miman said more expatriate criminals live in Makkah because they overstay their Haj or Umrah visas. “They are poor and they need money, so they resort to crimes,” he said. Zaki Al-Rehaily, assistant spokesperson for the Makkah Police said the rule would not apply to all expatriates. “There are expatriates who have a good history, are well educated and work in important positions. This rule will not affect them unless we discover they were involved or condoned such behavior.” Al-Rehaily said. “If this is the case then they will be deported as well.” Maj. Gen. Abdulsamei' Qadi, former chief of Makkah Police said that the new regulation will decrease crime by 40- 50 percent long term, according to an Al-Madina report. Another former police officials said previously when one family member was deported they would return under a different name and resume living with their family in the Kingdom. __
