Page 55 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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The conditions for passing drivers’ tests have been tightened. Out of 385 persons who pre­
sented themselves for a test 187 failed to pass. Numerous complaints were received from drivers,
mostly foreigners, about the road conduct of pedestrians, especially purdah women, donkeys and
donkey carts. Foreigners who come to Bahrain and drive cars fail to realise that the ways of the
people of the country have been the same from time immemorial and that motor traffic is still a
comparatively new innovation. Drivers of motor vehicles should adapt their driving methods to
local conditions and should not expect any rapid change in the pedestrian manners of the people.
Import and export figures for cars were high. The demand for second hand cars in India and
Pakistan stimulated a lively trade in Bahrain. Most of the cars which were exported to India were
either lorries or small British cars which in many cases had been run for not more than a few
hundred miles.

The general condition of road vehicles showed some improvement though it was not yet satis­
factory. As long as worn out vehicles are bought by the public, inadequately patched up and put
on the roads, they will be a source of danger to their drivers and to others.
A new parking system was adopted in Barrett Street and was fairly successful in alleviating
traffic congestion in that area. The centre of Manama town contains no open spaces which can
conveniently be used as car parks but a space behind the new Government shops in Barrett Street is
being prepared for use as a car park.
A number of new orders relating to motor vehicles were issued during the year, these included
the following:—
1. Parking of vehicles in Barrett Street.
2. Speed limit on Manama Customs Pier.
3. Public Conveyance Order.
4. Classification of motor vehicles.
5. Registration of motor vehicles.

Police Duties (British Police).—The British Police undertook 58 prosecutions, other
than traffic offences. The cases included riot, attempted murder, liquor, narcotics, Black Market
trading, mischief, gambling, smuggling, theft, misappropriation and possession of ammunition. The
detachment took an active part in dealing with the riots which occurred early in the year. In
8 cases the defendants were American or British subjects.
During the year Inspector Cochrane was on leave for four months. Sergeants Smith and Hyde
were promoted to Sub-Inspectors.
The training of the police cadets continued until their final examinations were held in Rabi
al Thany with the following results :—
Sulman bin Jabr Almusallam 421
Abdulaziz bin Shaikh Mohomed 399
Ahmed bin Said ....................... 385
Khalifah bin Ahmed Mejrin 382
Yusuf bin Shaikh Ali 348
Possible, 500. Aggregate passing, 300.
As from 1st Rajab, the five cadets were promoted to the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspectors on
probation for one year. This experiment in training picked young men as police officers has, so far,
worked very successfully. The duties allotted to the Assistant Sub-Inspectors were as follows :
one in charge of Muharraq Police Station, one in charge of Jida and Budeya, two in the Traffic
Branch, one in charge of the records office. All duties, except the record office were changed monthly.
In Jamad al Thany a Criminal Record Office was opened and Assistant Sub-Inspector Ahmed
bin Said was put in charge of it. Card indexes, as are required for such an office, were prepared and
all persons arrested were photographed and their finger prints were properly recorded. The records