Page 335 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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43
Other Ranks
N. C. Os..................................... 52
Policemen 227
Followers 35
Clerks 12
Boatmen, syces, sweepers, etc. 35
Total .. 361

Animals
Horses 40
Camels 15
Naturs
Manamah 100
Muharraq 60
Outposts 27
R.A.F. 40
Jufair 3
Rafaa 5
Total 235

It continued to be difficult to obtain Rood types of local recruits, in the ease of Naturs a num­
ber of foreigners, mostly from the Trucial Coast and Oman, were enlisted during the year. High
pay in Saudi Arabia and in Kuwait attracted away from Bahrain the type of men who in the past
would have joined the Police.
Duties.—The work of an ordinary Policeman in Bahrain is extremely monotonous, which
probably contributed to the difficulty in recruiting suitable men. There is a daily parade in the early
morning all the year round and sections take turn on outpost duty. Apart from the Traffic Sections
and the Police Station Sections the general duties are neither exacting nor interesting.
About 126 policemen were continuously employed as permanent guards, outposts, on jail duty
and in Police Stations and on traffic control. Owing to the decrease in smuggling coastal patrols
were reduced but the rapid expansion of Manamah town increased the need for more Police and Natur
posts. At one time the shops, where most supervision is needed, were concentrated in the bazaar,
shops have now sprung up all over the town and in the suburbs. Natur posts were maintained at
Bilad, Ain A1 Hakim and Jaboor during the summer when many people from the towns migrate to
the coast and live during the hot months in barastis on the seashore. In the 1370 summer, owing
to the excessive heat, very large numbers of people left the towns at night and slept in the open desert
or on the shore.
During the year 279 Policemen and 5 Officers carried out the annual Musketry Course on the
range at Safra, which was frequently made available for Royal Navy and R.A.F. units desiring to
fire there. The Machine Gun Section also did a course of training. The Police competed with teams
from His Majesty's ships and with the R.A.F. in shooting competitions both with rifles and machine
guns. In all the competitions the Police were victorious, they have a high average of marksmanship.
Leave was granted to 84 Policemen and 24 men were allowed leave pay in lieu of leave. 34
Naturs took leave.
Numerous Guards of Honour and Mounted Escorts were provided on occasions during official
visits.
Rations and Stores.—Rice and flour were purchased through the Food Control Department,
other supplies were bought locally. Policemen on outpost duties were issued with 561 rations and
Naturs drew 347 rations; the scale of rations was as before.