The municipal policing system established four years ago by the Jerusalem Municipality was supposed to provide additional response to the city’s residents, preventing offenses, enforcing the law and providing additional security. However, City Comptroller attorney Malka Dror points to serious failures when it comes to the new unit’s operational realities.

Dror cites many deficiencies regarding regulating unit practices, pointing out there are no written work procedures relating to a routine, collaboration with police and accepting new employees.

Regarding cooperation with Jerusalem district police, it is stated that the municipal police are operating in the city without a signed agreement with the Ministry of Public Security, the ministry which is responsible for Israel Police. Other municipal policing forces have signed such an agreement.

Failures also include a significant lack of equipment and manpower in the unit, with a prime example being a shortage of radio-communications, a lack of vehicles, checkpoint kits, a fixed communications system, first aid kits and rescue cables.

The report cites officers are using their own phones for communications and this is a major issue pointed out in the report, since during a major event, when cellular systems collapse from the load, they will be left without the ability to communicate.

There has not been a proper check conducted on candidates for the force. The members of the force are not properly trained, and only attend refresher courses once annually instead of the required minimum of twice. This the report adds “may impair the unit’s real-time activity”.

In response, City Hall promises to implement all of the suggestions contained in the report, adding in 2017, the unit was awarded the Certificate of Excellence as the outstanding municipal policing unit in the country.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)