Dubai Police’s mobile ‘innovation lab’ to boost community outreach

Dubai Police unveiled their new mobile ‘innovation lab' on Sunday, which is aimed at promoting closer interaction between the police and the community.
Major General Dr Abd Al Qudous Al Obaidli, Assistant to the Dubai Police Chief for Quality and Excellence, said that the ‘innovation lab', which will operate out of a bus, will go across Dubai according to a schedule allowing people to submit their suggestions to Dubai Police or have discussions with Dubai Police representatives on the spot.
The bus is scheduled to visit various Dubai Police stations and departments, government and non-government entities, as well as areas that draw members of the public in large numbers, such as Mohammad Bin Rashid Boulevard, the Walk and Global Village.
"The bus is designed to be a mobile brainstorming platform and it has all the latest technology needed and programmes to make that possible. It is also an addition to the multiple ways people can submit suggestions,” Major General Al Obaidli said at the press conference to announce the new initiative.
Dubai Police has received 141,477 suggestions from the public submitted through Dubai Police's multiple interactive channels of the department, such as the Dubai Police App and the Dubai Police website.
"We aim to reach 200,000 suggestions by the end of 2015. We realised that not everyone has access or have time to go online and submit their suggestion, so we created this bus to reach them,” Maj Gen Al Obaidli said.
He added that Dubai Police during the course of their research for the initiative had not come across a similar initiative and "so you could say it is the first of its kind.”
The bus, which is a modified Toyota Coaster bus, has been customised with seven seats all of which are fitted with seat belts. Three of the seats can swivel but lock in position when the bus is in motion. There are also foldable tables, electrical outlets, USB ports and Ipads. There is also a screen that can be used for video or presentations or play the live feed from a camera placed at the front of the bus.
The initiative is a joint effort between Dubai Police, whom came up with the idea, Al Futtaim Motors and NSV Auto, the company that customised the bus.
The new initiative is in line with the UAE government's ‘UAE Vision 2021' and ‘Dubai Plan 2021' programmes.
Jon Williams, Managing Director of Al Futtaim Motors, said: "This innovation lab is truly a spectacular initiative that will assist Dubai Police in their endeavours by allowing them to reach out to larger numbers of the community to engage and work together in creating a safer society and more responsible community.” –
Source: Gulf News