Sharjah: Sharjah Police has announced its readiness for the start of the 2026–2027 academic year with an integrated traffic, community and media plan.The initiative, involving several departments and strategic partners, aims to ensure the safety and security of students, celebrate their return to classrooms, protect road users and maintain the smooth flow of traffic around schools.The plan was reviewed during a meeting chaired by Major General Ibrahim Musabah Al Ajel, Director-General of the General Department of Comprehensive Police Stations. It was attended by Major General Staff Omar Al Ghazal Al Shamsi, Director-General of the General Department of Operations and Security Support; Brigadier Faisal bin Nassar, Director-General of the General Department of Community Prevention and Protection; and several deputy directors-general and department directors.Participants reviewed operational plans and objectives and discussed the level of readiness and coordination among the departments and strategic partners. The meeting focused on integrating operations and unifying efforts to ensure the safety, security and happiness of students as the new academic year begins.Major General Al Ajel said student safety remains a top priority for Sharjah Police. He added that the plan is based on proactive coordination and the integration of responsibilities among the relevant departments and partners to meet back-to-school requirements and provide the highest levels of safety for students, parents and teaching and administrative staff.Increased patrols around schoolsUnder the plan, the Traffic and Patrols Directorate will increase patrols at key locations, roads and intersections surrounding schools. Officers will also regulate vehicle movement during peak hours to reduce congestion and maintain smooth traffic flow.The Operations Centre Department will strengthen its operational readiness by improving the efficiency of its system for receiving reports, monitoring developments on the ground and coordinating directly with relevant teams and authorities. This will help ensure a rapid response to incidents and reports received during the back-to-school period.School bus inspectionsThe Vehicles and Drivers Licensing Department will intensify inspections of school buses to ensure they are ready and comply with security and safety requirements.Awareness programmes and initiatives will also be conducted for drivers to reinforce compliance with procedures for transporting students safely to and from school.The Community Security Department will carry out a series of school visits, including welcoming students at the beginning of the academic year and delivering lectures and awareness programmes. These initiatives will promote safety, positive behaviour and the values of responsibility and cooperation among students.‘Our First Lesson is Safety’ campaignThe Security Media Department will launch the “Our First Lesson is Safety” campaign as part of a comprehensive media plan targeting students, parents and road users.The campaign will feature a range of awareness content across Sharjah Police’s digital platforms, alongside media coverage of related programmes and initiatives. It aims to extend the reach of safety messages to different sections of the community and increase awareness of safe practices and behaviour throughout the academic year.The plan is supported by strategic partnerships with the Sharjah Private Education Authority through the “Ma’man” service. The service allows school bus drivers and supervisors to send an emergency report directly to the Operations Centre at the press of a button inside the bus.The bus’s location is identified immediately, enabling a rapid response and allowing the nearest patrol to be dispatched to deal with the situation. The service is intended to enhance students’ safety while travelling to and from school.Sharjah Police urged parents, drivers and road users to cooperate with field teams and follow traffic instructions around schools.Members of the public should call 999 in emergencies and 901 for non-emergency cases and enquiries.Sharjah Police stressed that student safety is a shared responsibility and that responsible road behaviour helps provide a safe and stable school environment for everyone.
