Page 49 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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Duties.—During the year 149 men were permanently employed on duties in Police Stations,
in the traffic section, and on guards and outposts and 93 N.C.O.s and men went on leave, the majority
of them spending their leave in Bahrain. In a few cases policemen on leave obtained temporary
civil employment. As a measure to check pilferage from steamers’ cargo a new police post was opened
on the old pier at Sitra. The police were provided with a launch which was based at Sitra in which
they patrolled the sea between Sitra and Shaikh Hamad Bridge. The sea patrol in the Sitra area
appeared to result in some decrease in pilferage.

Natur posts were maintained at 36 different places in the islands, including the permanent
garrison in the Fort at Hawar.
The total number of N.C.O.s and men on sick parade during the year was 2,428, approximately
6.9 per cent of the force, 63 men were admitted to the hospital during the twelve months. The
number was considerably lower than in the previous year. Two men died from T.B. and two from
liver trouble.
The usual musketry courses were fired during the year. It was found that a certain number
of the older men had deteriorated in markmanship owing to failing eyesight. In recent years it was
not possible to insist upon such high a degree of eyesight as had previously been required in the case
of recruits.

Pay.—The rates of pay and allowances were not changed during 1367 but at the end of the
year the question of an increase was under consideration of the Government. A number of gratuities
were paid to men with long service who were discharged on medical grounds or on account of age and
to the dependents of the four men who died. There is no police pension scheme or provident fund
but generally when men are discharged by the police authorities, for no fault of their own, they receive
one month’s pay for each year’s service.

Prisoners.—During the year 217 prisoners were received and the same number were dis­
charged after serving their time. The number of prisoners in detention at the end of the year was 53.
Taking into consideration the population of the State, which is about 105,000 the number of criminals
is small.
Rations and Stores.—Rice and flour were bought direct from the Food Control Department.
Police on outpost duty draw rations as well as ration allowance. The number of rations drawn by the
police was 646 ; 470 rations, on a slightly lover scale, were issued to the naturs.

Among the new stores which were purchased, mostly from England, were 300 woollen jerseys,
1,600 shirts and 1,400 shorts. Two saluting guns, 18 pounders, 1918, were acquired to replace the
battery of six muzzle loading guns which are said to have been presented to Shaikh Isa bin Ali by
H.M. Queen Victoria.
Police Fund.—The police fund, which over many years has accumulated from fines, deduc­
tions, etc., amounted to approximately Rs. 12,000 at the beginning of 1367. Payments from it were
made to the children of various deceased policemen and two wireless sets were bought for the Fort
and Jida island. Loans to police and nature from the Police Fund amounted to approximately
Rs. 3,000.
Police who were previously divers, in debt to their nakhudas, repaid Rs. 3,600. The amount
refundable by police on account of diving debts was changed from Rs. 5 per month, irrespective of
their pay, to 10 per cent of their basic pay. In most cases the difference was negligible.
Crime.—The police prosecuted the following cases which were heard in the State Courts and
Agency Court.