Stability and security is gradually returning to Bahrain's streets – thanks to the vigilant police force, said a top official, adding that 83 policemen and women were injured during one period of unrest alone amid 6,500 rallies and riots.

The events of February 2011 had shaken a community partnership strategy and interaction between the police and people, Northern Governorate Police director-general Brigadier Ibrahim Al Sheeb was quoted as saying in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

However, following directives from Interior Minister Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and Public Security Chief Major General Tariq Al Hassan, the general directorate worked on the issue effectively, and is now in the process of gradually reversing it, Brig Al Sheeb said.

He denied reports that policemen did not enter certain villages and called the claims baseless.

"It is the duty of the police to maintain order all across the kingdom and their patrols cover every area and every street. They respond to emergency cases everywhere in Bahrain," he said.

"In 2012, we recorded 9,694 cases. The majority of them fell within the jurisdiction of Budaiya police station (5,025), followed by the Southern Hamad Town police station (2,828), Khamis (1,086) and Northern Hamad Town (755). Compared to 2011, when the cases totalled 5,243, 2012 recorded a rise of 85 per cent," he said.

About relations between the directorate and the private sector, he said police cared for all sectors.

"We are in constant contact with small, medium and big companies and with car showrooms. We have also formed a team consisting of community service police members who inspect various facilities to check whether they adhere to safety norms and point out shortcomings.

"We also advise entrepreneurs to install CCTV cameras, hire guards and train their employees on handling fire-fighting equipment," Brig Al Sheeb said.

Of the 6,550 rallies and riots, he said 3,891 were acts of unrest, 2,376 assemblies and 283 demonstrations in which 99,962 people took part. – TradeArabia News Service