RIYADH — Inspectors who work for municipalities and mayoralties are more likely to be attacked verbally or physically when they apprehend violators in restaurants, malls, or other public places.

Just recently three inspectors from a Taif municipality had to flee to the protection of a police station. They were supervising the demolishing of illegal structures on public land. Over a hundred angry residents opposed to the decision came charging at the inspectors who escaped for their lives. They remained inside the police station until officers dispelled the crowd.

In Makkah, a father and his four sons attacked inspectors who were supervising the removal of an illegal speed bump that the father had installed in front of his house. Besides being beaten up, the inspectors’ vehicles were also smashed. The inspectors had to call the police for protection.

Some mayors have called for the formation of a “municipality police force” that can protect inspectors while on duty. Although mayoralties send security guards with municipality inspectors, these guards are usually not respected and get attacked as well.

Majdi Al-Nasser, a citizen, believes only police can deter troublemakers who usually do not show respect to inspectors and sometimes attack them.

Naji Ghareeb, another citizen, agreed with Al-Nasser that police can be more influential and respected. Ghareen was once sitting in a park when he saw municipality inspectors asking a head of a family to remove his barbecue grill off the grass. The head of the family refused to do so and almost got into an altercation which could have turned into a fist fight had it not been for a police officer who was patrolling the area.

“When the police officer asked the head of the family to remove the barbecue grill, he did exactly what he was told without any objection. Many visitors and families do not comply with rules when they go to public parks or beaches. Police should assign officers to these public places, especially during holidays,” Ghareeb said. The idea of having a “municipality police” to accompany inspectors has been on the discussion table for a while, according to Dhaifallah Al-Otaibi, mayor in the Eastern Province.

“Security guards cannot deter violators. The inspectors of municipalities and mayoralties should have police officers accompanying them. Only then will the mischief makers behave,” Al-Otaibi said. — SG