Page 270 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat

18
268
Police. -2-

been a very seriou3 increase in the number of Arabs
who have taken to drinking liquor which is secretly
manufactured. The worst offenders are certain mem-

bers of the Khalifah family. Owing to their highly
placed position, and because they drink in their

own houses it is difficult for the Police to take
action against them, Persons who are caught drinking
or distilling arrak are severely dealt with but undoubt­

edly a number of these people avoid detection, There
is a feeling among a number of the younger and would-be
progressive Arabs, who have travelled abroad, that the

restrictions on drink should be withdrawn but on this
subject Shaikh Hamad has very strong views.
Indian Police.

The 44 Indian police complete their agreements in
about six months from the end of the year, and it is
not proposed to renew their contracts. They are

being substituted by locally enlisted police who are
very much less expensive and altogether more suitable
for police work. The Arab police are a mixed force

and include Persians, mainland Arabs, Yemenis and
negroes. There are at present three sections of
recruits at different stages of training and their

progress is very satisfactory, although on ceremonial
occasions they will never be able to compare with the
Punjabis who have had many years service in the Indian

Army.-
Commandant of Police.

j?or reasons of economy it was decided not to renew
the agreement of Ceptain L.S.Parke, Commandant of
i Police end Assistant Adviser, on the completion of