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Police Clearance not Needed for Duplication of Keys

Owners of key cutting and duplication shops are heaving a sigh of relief after the police departments in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah clarified that there was no move to introduce police "No Objection" for customers to get a duplicate key made.

Brigadier Abdul Jalil Mehdi, Deputy Director of Preventive Security Department of the Dubai Police, said that according to law, the owners of key shops should maintain a record of the identification documents of those who want duplicate keys.

He warned key shop owners not to sell duplicate keys without checking the customer’s ID, and pointed out that they would be held legally responsible if a duplicate key is found to have been used in a crime. He said a special police unit runs routine checks at key shops to ensure compliance of the law.

In case of any violations by the key shop owners, the police inform Dubai Municipality which has the authority to cancel the shop’s licence.

According to an officer from Sharjah Police, if the shop owners feel that the ID provided by the customer is not genuine, they can contact the police.

Mohammed Ghassan, proprietor of Golden Key works in Karama, who is in the business for the last 20 years, said, “A lot of customers come for duplication of keys for everyday use, duplication of car keys and safe keys. We make sure that the customer gives a copy of his ID before we duplicate his key.”

An employee of Modern Keys said, “Along with key cutting we also do emergency opening of cars for which we have special permission from the police. The police runs an enquiry on the customer and we work accordingly.”

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com