*** ----> Interior Minister highlights HM King's reforms, role in reinforcing national values | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Interior Minister highlights HM King's reforms, role in reinforcing national values

Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa has asserted that the reforms launched by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa have had a crucial role in reinforcing the Bahraini identity and the protection of national values.

The reforms also promote the spirit of belonging to the nation, the minister stressed, quoting HM the King who stated: "the citizen is an active partner with public security forces in carrying their missions and duties towards society.”

Addressing the participants in the second national defence course and the 12th command and staff course at the Royal College of Command, Staff and National Defence, Shaikh Rashid highlighted internal challenges and measures, strategies to tackle them, how security is the foundation of developments, border control, crisis and disaster management and international support and cooperation.

He stressed that security efforts to fight coronavirus, including the disinfection procedures of the civil defence that reached more than 15000 operations in the last two months.

Such efforts are part of the missions of the national Bahrain team that works under the supervision of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, the minister said.

The Directorate of Transportation has transported around 9,000 suspected and infected coronavirus cases, along with those who were in contact with active cases, through specially equipped vehicles in cooperation with concerned authorities, he added.

Shaikh Rashid also reviewed the unique awareness role of the police media and the logistic support of various Interior Ministry’s departments to promote the fight against the virus.

The minister pointed out to indications that reflect a consolidation of security and stability in Bahrain and a decrease in the number of crimes, including public security-related crimes, as part of the counterterrorism efforts exerted by security authorities.

He also tackled the achievement of the Interior Ministry in the development of smart policing and the expansion of the use of security cameras and artificial intelligence. The Civil Defence, the Coast Guard and the Criminal Investigation Directorate had tackled 16,000 cases in 2019, he said.

Shaikh Rashid emphasised the importance of comprehensive security and the role of everyone towards it.

The minister answered questions by the participants, thanked the administration of the college and wished the best to all of them.

The commander of the college expressed thanks and appreciation to the minister for the lecture.