The Dubai Police are closely monitoring chat rooms and blogs in an attempt to track down paedophiles.
Lt. General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander in Chief of the Dubai Police, was quoted in the media as saying as speaking during a forum on protecting children from IT crimes, held at the Dubai Police Academy.
“I don’t think enough precautions are being taken to protect people,” he said.
Khalfan said covert teams had been set up to keep a close eye on social networking sites, chat rooms and blogs that could be used by perverts to target children. An officer could pose as a child or a woman and criminals would be brought to book, he said.
Authorities also plan to maintain records of convicted child offenders. Such criminals will be under surveillance in the country and even when they travel abroad. They will be asked to stay clear of schools by 200 kilometres.
Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazina, Deputy Commander in Chief of Dubai Police, said the police were chasing and setting traps for paedophiles after receiving relevant information. He pointed out that an offender was recently arrested in Dubai and was handed over to the Interpol.
Tamim warned that “shameful” material was available through simple internet searches and puts young people at risk.