Page 89 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

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Rations. The Military authorities in Iraq also supplied the State Police and Special Police
with a large proportion of the dry rations which were used including rice. Rice was enjoyed by the
Police throughout the year while the civil population were unable to obtain rice. The arrangements
for obtaining rations and uniforms were made through the Defence Officer in the Persian
Gulf. Monthly rations for State Police and Special Police included the following items :—
lbs. oz. p.m.
Firewood .. 60 o
Rice 22 8
Flour 22 8
Meat 2 4
Ghee 3 12
Mong Dhall i 14
Gram Dhall i 14
Onions i 8
Salt i 6*
Spices mixed o 6
Soda o i
Garlic 0 3
Vegetable Costing about y\ annas „
Police Pay. Owing to the increased cost of living and the high wages obtainable in Bahrain
which attracted the Police to leave their service in order to obtain employment elsewhere it became
necessary to improve the conditions of service. Until 1362 the basic pay of a Policeman was Rs. 25
per month, after two years’ service, provided that he passed the musketry test, he received an allowance
of Rs. 3 per month, he also received a clothing allowance of Rs. 3 per month most of which was spent
upon replacing items of renewable uniform. In 1362 the basic pay was increased to Rs. 27-8 and
all clothing was made a free issue so that the clothing allowance was enjoyed without any deductions.
An arrangement was made in the case of the Special Police at the Oil Field by which they were given
a free return bus pass to Manama once every week. The Naturs, who receive no rations, were granted
a war allowance of 12 £ per cent which increased their pay from Rs. 25 per month to Rs. 28-8 per
month. The cost to the State of a Policeman in 1362, including pay, rations and uniforms but not
including accommodation, water, lighting, etc., was approximately Rs. 54 per month.

Jail. In the past prisoners were housed in a yard in the Fort which < ntained cells along
one of the walls. Long term prisoners only were sent to Jida Island. Tisonei from the Port were
sent to work in various parts of the town in charge of Police Opportunities existed, and
were frequently taken, of escaping and of communicating with friends. The arrangement was
unsatisfactory for disciplinary, sanitary and political reasons. During 1362 the new jail in Jida was
completed and all prisoners sentenced to a month's imprisonment, or longer were transferred there.
Prisoners attending hospital or serving for less than one month or not sentenced to labour were retained
in the Fort. The new jail consists of one large well ventilated barrack room, built against the face of
one of the old stone quarries with suitable sanitary arrangements. In addition there is a Police
guardroom, a store and a kitchen and on the cliff immediately above the jail a barrack room for the
Police from which there is a view over the sea in all directions. T* prisoners are employed on stone
cutting, cultivating a garden and in building a pier at Budeya w ch is being constructed of stone
from the ruined houses.
Crime. There was only a small increase in the total number of cases presented by the Police in
the courts but there was an increase of 50 per cent over 1361 in the number of theft cases. Out of 342
thefts which were reported to the Police 162 were not detected, 28 were not investigated and convictions
were obtained in 152 cases. Most of the thefts were from shops and houses in Manama or from the
Bahrain Petroleum Company. During the year various epidemics of stealing occurred which ceased
when persons were convicted and severely punished for the prevalent type of crime. There was an
outbreak of bicycle thefts and thefts from cars. Most of the convicted thieves were boys or youths
usually with previous convictions. In these cases the Bahrain Court punished the offenders by caning