Cafes shut at midnight by Bahraini police

Police in Bahrain are closing shops, cafes and restaurants in residential areas due to complaints from residents regarding increased violence, theft, and vandalism.

Sister-pulication Arabian Business reported that the move was requested by Bahrain’s three municipal councils – Muharraq, Northern and Southern – following an order by the Interior Ministry.

Southern Governorate Security Directorate Captain Hilal Al Dossary was reported stating: “All locations have been inspected by community police and reports have been compiled, in addition to several complaints from neighbours and residents. We have decided to take the move to ensure security and safety.”

We found that all mentioned locations were a source of nuisance with gatherings of several youngsters nearby those shops, which has increased the probability of crime – brawls, thefts or vandalism – and with such threat we had to enforce the midnight closure,” he said.

The Interior Ministry is working on measures to halt permits to shops to operate after midnight unless they provides necessary services.

However, council chairman Ahmed Al Ansari pointed out the ministry was not responsible for taking such measures.

“It is good that the Interior Ministry has started closing down shops by midnight acting on public security, but they are not responsible since they enforce the law and there is nothing in the law mentioning closing timings. Nothing seems to be clear about the situation regarding closures since there are no rules or ministerial decisions regarding it,” he said.

In June 2016, the government rejected a proposed ban on cafes and restaurants operating after midnight without a 24 hour license.