A study conducted by security officials has recommended that supermarkets and pharmacies working around-the-clock be linked to police operation rooms, as is the case with commercial banks. In the wake of repeated late-night burglaries and thefts at pharmacies and supermarkets, Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Minister and Minister of Interior, has approved the study's recommendations. The study, which requires installation of surveillance cameras and alarm systems, also states that pharmacies must install security barriers that will be closed at night and provide medicine through a small window. The new measures, only applicable to pharmacies on main streets, stressed the importance of increasing police patrols in these areas to promptly deal with any emergencies. The study also called upon the ministries of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Health to thoroughly examine applications from pharmacies and supermarkets that seek permits to work around-the-clock and to check with security authorities to ensure they are ready to implement the plan.
