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Dubai logs 6,000 beach offences | Dubai logs 6,000 beach offences |
(41 minutes later) | |
More than 6,000 people have been stopped by the police for offences on Dubai's beaches, records show. | More than 6,000 people have been stopped by the police for offences on Dubai's beaches, records show. |
Infractions range from ogling women, to kissing, to people swimming fully clothed or in their underwear. | Infractions range from ogling women, to kissing, to people swimming fully clothed or in their underwear. |
Dubai's authorities have stepped up their policing of what they regard as offensive behaviour. | Dubai's authorities have stepped up their policing of what they regard as offensive behaviour. |
The Gulf emirate is popular with tourists and Western expats. But most of the people stopped are workers from developing countries. | The Gulf emirate is popular with tourists and Western expats. But most of the people stopped are workers from developing countries. |
The police records detail offences logged in the first 10 months of 2009. | |
Conservative country | Conservative country |
Dubai has hit the headlines for its economic problems recently. | Dubai has hit the headlines for its economic problems recently. |
But the case of two Britons accused of having sex on a beach last year was one of the biggest stories to come out of emirate. | But the case of two Britons accused of having sex on a beach last year was one of the biggest stories to come out of emirate. |
The case highlighted the dangers expatriates face in Dubai for behaviour that might be frowned upon back home but is unlikely to result in a prison sentence. | The case highlighted the dangers expatriates face in Dubai for behaviour that might be frowned upon back home but is unlikely to result in a prison sentence. |
Dubai's dizzying growth has attracted more than three million expatriates and many tourists, drawn to its outlandish attractions, luxury hotels and year-round sunshine. | Dubai's dizzying growth has attracted more than three million expatriates and many tourists, drawn to its outlandish attractions, luxury hotels and year-round sunshine. |
But Dubai remains a conservative Muslim country, where drinking alcohol, sex outside marriage and homosexuality are banned. | |
Undercover | Undercover |
The country might have boomed on the back of it foreign workers and tourists, but many locals resent their behaviour. | The country might have boomed on the back of it foreign workers and tourists, but many locals resent their behaviour. |
Undercover police patrols of its packed beaches were initiated several years ago. Floodlights expose misbehaviour at night. | Undercover police patrols of its packed beaches were initiated several years ago. Floodlights expose misbehaviour at night. |
Couples kissing or touching, men watching women or taking photographs, and topless sunbathers can be stopped, questioned and even charged if they are repeat offenders. | Couples kissing or touching, men watching women or taking photographs, and topless sunbathers can be stopped, questioned and even charged if they are repeat offenders. |
The police say they have taken legal action against people accused of drinking, taking drugs and homosexuality. | The police say they have taken legal action against people accused of drinking, taking drugs and homosexuality. |
But police statistics also reveal that the majority of those caught are from developing countries. The people who have largely built Dubai - but remain unwelcome on its beaches. | But police statistics also reveal that the majority of those caught are from developing countries. The people who have largely built Dubai - but remain unwelcome on its beaches. |
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