The gentle touch

Najma Isa Al Dosari is an intelligent, gentle, softly-spoken woman with a steely determination to keep the streets and homes of Bahrain safe for all its citizens.

Although she boasts a degree in philosophy and social studies she commands the greatest respect from her colleagues in the kingdom’s police force.
With 35 years experience – making her one of the longest serving female police officer in the whole of the Arab world – she has risen to the rank of colonel and is currently director of Bahrain’s Women Police.
Dressed in an immaculate green uniform and cap, she is always on duty. “I’m on call 24 hours a day,” she explained. “I’ve given my life to the police force.”
Colonel Al Dosari’s knowledge and experience is recognised not only at home but abroad. This week, for example, she will be flying to Europe to take part in a multi-agency forum fighting against the worldwide scourge of paedophilia.
In 1970, Bahrain became the first Arabic country to introduce female police officers. Colonel Al Dosari’s sister became the country’s first female police officer and Colonel Al Dosari followed soon after, joining in 1972.
“Most of my family worked for the police, my father and husband were in the police, and my brother is also a police officer,” she explains.
After joining as a cadet she became an investigating officer, a position she held for 14 years.
“I was always dealing with women and children. I found I could help and advise them, and that’s why I’ve stayed so long,” she revealed.
She rose rapidly through the ranks, becoming a training officer, and in 2004 she was promoted to assistant director of the Women Police. One year ago she became the director of Bahrain’s Women’s Police Force.
Throughout her career Colonel Al Dosari has witnessed huge changes in the roles of women play in the police force and the authority they hold. “There have been a lot of changes over the last 35 years,” she explains. “Now you can see women police everywhere.”
Initially female police officers were only assigned to deal with cases involving women and children. Now female officers can be found in almost every area of police work. They are involved in immigration, traffic control, airport security, the king’s guard team, VIP protection, CID and specialist shooting teams.
For security reasons we have been asked not to publish actual numbers of serving male and female officers.   Female police cadets are trained in everything from legal procedures to Taekwondo and gun use.
“I’m very happy to see female police in different roles,” says Colonel Al Dosari, “The community feel happy when they see female police around because they are particularly close to the people.”
Every year more and more women are recruited to join Bahrain’s police force. Those who join as women police officers can sign up directly after finishing secondary school and will take up positions in police stations, juvenile correction centres, female prisons and police academies.
Unmarried women aged below 30 who have completed college can sign up as cadet officers – a different branch to the Women Police – and will be trained in legal procedures, gun use and martial arts, to be assigned to a range of police work. Colonel Al Dosari does not believe that female officers face greater dangers then their male counterparts.
“Female and male police deal with men and women separately, but they work together and support one another,” she says.
But for the female officers that Colonel Al Dosari leads, their work is mainly centred round women and children. She describes their work as similar to social work, providing an invaluable service to the country.
“Women especially need women police,” explains Colonel Al Dosari, “They aren’t always able to speak freely to men. In situations such as rape cases they sometimes can’t speak out of shyness or fear.”
Female police officers are also instrumental in preventing and dealing with domestic violence.
“If there are problems between husbands and wives, we negotiate with them. We try our best to help them and we try to avoid sending the case to court. But in cases where there is drinking and beating, we will. We also work with juveniles and visit their families.”
Female investigative officers work in all of Bahrain’s police stations and are on hand to deal with any cases that affect women.
After 35 years of service, Colonel Al Dosari, is still committed to give even more. She said: “When you find that you can do something to help other women, it encourages you to give more – to give your best.”

By Rosamund De SyBel
editor@gulfweekly.com