Page 23 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

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Jail. There was an increase in the number of prisoners. During the year 536 persons were
admitted to jail. Prison labour was used for building a pier at Jaw into the deep water and a similar
pier was commenced at Budeya. The feeding of prisoners, which was done by contract, costs the
State Rs. 7/8 per head monthly, in many eases nowadays imprisonment is not regarded as a thing to be
avoided but is sought after by people who find it difficult to feed themselves.
Crime. No serious crime occurred during the year.
In Muharram a small fracas took place on one of the nights when the processions from the vari­
ous matems went out into the town. Two processions met in a narrow lane, each refused to give way,
and there was a brawl between the two parties. The Police who were accompanying the processions
were caught between two fighting mobs. Reinforcements arrived and order was restored. A few
heads were broken and some arrests were made. Guarantees for the good behaviour of the partici­
pants in the procession on the 10th of Muharram were taken from the leading Shia notables and no
further incidents occurred.
Traffic accidents increased. Three men, two women and a child were run over and killed during
the year; four men and two children were seriously injured. Considering that there were less than
500 motor vehicles on the road in Bahrain during the year this percentage of fatalities was exceedingly
high.
There was a considerable increase in the number of criminal cases ; 503 prosecutions were made
by the Police of which 291 were against foreigners. Last year only 336 cases were dealt with. The
increase was due mainly to the large number of persons who were prosecuted for receiving stolen pro­
perty and for offences against food control and rationing regulations and for traffic offences, A traffic
offence which was constantly repeated for some months after the Shaikh Hamad Bridge was opened
was the smashing of the shadoof gate by cars whose brakes failed to stop them as the vehicle approached
the bridge. :
During the year 356 Bahrain subjects were convicted and 257 foreigners. One reason for the
overwhelmingly high proportion of foreign criminals was that a large proportion of the foreigners had
no means of livelihood and were reduced to stealing and other criminal practices.
List of Police Prosecutions in The Bahrain Courts 1361.
Number of Number of Number of Number of
Cases. persons persons persons
accused. con' cted. acquitted.
Attempts at thefts ........................... 9 13 11 2
Dacoity 1 1 1
Thefts................................................... 59 97 83 14
Receiving stolen property 28 34 25 9
Cheating................................................... 9 9 8 1
Use of criminal force and assault 24 60 30 30
Abduction ....................................... 2 4 3 1
Unnatural offence 2 4 4
Criminal breach of trust 5 5 3 2
Public nuisance....................................... 8 16 15 1
Adultery ....................................... 2 6 4 2
Distilling liquor 5 5 5
Liquor drinking and possession 2 3 3
Gambling 6 23 16 7
Accidents ....................................... 10 10 7 3
Traffic offences 62 74 7i 3
Possession of arms without licences .. 19 2 b 26
Profiteering ....................................... 12 14 11 3
Violation of bridge rules I I T
Forgery 6 6 6
Smuggling ....................................... 5 9 9
Hoarding 11 11 9 2
Non compliance with Government rules 2 5 4 1
Trespassing in restricted area 1 2 1 1
291 438 356 82