Dubai Police reunite arrested mother with infant

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

In another humanitarian gesture by Dubai Police, the Victim Support Team at the Naif Police Station recently responded to a request from a woman in custody to be reunited with her 3-month-old boy as she had no one to trust him with. According to Brigadier Dr Tariq Muhammad Noor Tahlak, Director of Naif Police Station, the woman was placed in detention as a result of a quarrel between her and a woman of African nationality.

"The woman approached one of our female officers and requested to see and check on her 3-month-old baby, and claimed that she had no family members outside who she could trust her baby with," he said. Brig. Tahlak explained that within an hour, the Victim Support Team reunited the baby with his mother after verifying his identification papers in cooperation with the Dubai Hospital.

"We then arranged her transfer with her infant to Dubai Women's Prison in cooperation with the General Department of Punitive and Correctional Institutions, where the environment is fully prepared for such cases, including the availability of health care facilities and professionals and specialised nannies to take care of inmates' infants and children," he continued. Special Care Colonel Jamila Al Zaabi, Director of Women's Prison in the General Department of Punitive and Correctional Institutions, confirmed that prison is not an appropriate place for children.

However, it is the only option for some inmates, given that there are no family members outside to care for the child until their mother's sentence is served. She noted the Department's keenness to provide an appropriate environment for mothers and their children.

"Once the inmate arrives with her child, they undergo several medical examinations, we make sure all the child's needs are available including appropriate food, personal and health care tools and supplies, and clothes, in addition to providing the necessary immunisations and vacations," she said. Col. Al Zaabi explained that if the mother is psychologically fit and able to take care of her baby, he/she stays with her in a building designated for mothers and their children, where they get access to all required facilities and services in addition to medical care and periodic check-ups.

In the event that she is unable to take care of the child and there is no one outside to take care of them, the infant is transferred to the women's prison nursery, which is a separate building equipped with all the required services and facilities. "The nursery is operated by professionals, and ten specialised nannies who take care of infants and children," "The mother gets to visit and spend time with her baby on a daily basis," Col Al Zaabi said.

The arrested woman thanked Dubai Police, stressing that she did not expect this much cooperation and attention to her condition. She noted the humanity of the Dubai Police, especially the female officers, who were keen to reassure her and bring her baby immediately in a humane interaction that she had never experienced.