1,000-capacity prison opens in Sharjah

Picture by M.Sajjad

A new Sharjah Reformatory and Punitive Establishment (SRPE) that can accommodate 1,000 male inmates was inaugurated on Sunday. This is the first phase of the Dh4 million establishment.
The new jail located in Al Ramsa area has been established under the instruction of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
According to Col Khalifa Al Meri, Director-General of SRPE, the inmates in the old building will all be moved to the new building which will be demolished to be rebuild in the second and the third phases of SRPE with high standards. "Currently the prison accommodates 1,200 inmates who are involved in various crimes and 1,000 inmates who were caught staying in the country illegally," he said.
He added that 250 inmates have been moved to the new premises and the rest will be moved by the end of this week.
The jail in the first phase comprises cells for 1,000 inmates and when all the three phases are completed, will accommodate 3,000 more male and female inmates.
Col. Al Merri, said that Sharjah Police have made all the efforts to ensure human rights standards in the construction of the building and to provide them best rehabilitation in order to be able to integrated in the society and be normal citizens in the country or in their country after deportation. The building also equipped with the most advanced technological equipment's to enhance the level of performance in all fields related to preserving human rights.
He added that there are many initiatives launched by the Sharjah Police in the interest of the inmates, such as providing them with dental services including denture plantation provided to 1,476 inmates, paid debts worth Dh22,053, allowing them to speak to their family twice times per day, pardoning, allowing 47 inmates to complete their college and university degrees by providing them classes and bringing the exam in the premises. "They will soon be able to do higher education on line with international universities" he said.
Al Merri added that police in coordination with pink caravan conducted breast cancer to 320 inmates and spread awareness among all female inmates.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com
The facilities
> The new jail premises comprise three storeys - administration offices, clinic, reception, visitor room, control room equipped with security and CCTV cameras.
> The new building also includes lectures rooms, carpentry and other workshops, library, inmate services, four sports and exercise halls, laundry and guards accommodation that accommodate 320 employees.
> A quarantine section equipped with eight rooms to accommodate inmates with contagious diseases

• Sharjah

Afkar Ali Ahmed

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com