News
EUPOL COPPS Mission organized a field visit to Bethlehem District along with the Head of the Netherlands Representative Office
On the 20th of September 2023, EUPOL COPPS Mission organized a field visit to Bethlehem District along with the Head of the Netherlands Representative Office; Mr. Michel Rentenaar in Ramallah. During the visit, the delegation met with the Police District Commander of Bethlehem whereby, an explanation of the current status of Palestinian Civil Police (PCP) was given, daily challenges as well as opportunities that the EUPOL COPPS is offering in terms of improving the capacities in the context of the Bethlehem Pilot project. In July 2023, the mission launched a new Pilot Project in Bethlehem District. The aim of this project is to focus on further improving the PCP work conditions and skill in order to better support the Public. The delegation also visited the Bethlehem Police holding cells and the Bethlehem Correction and Rehabilitation Centre with the hope that the Dutch Government could consider providing funds to improve the situation in one or both facilities.
EUPOL COPPS and the Palestinian Civilian Police staged a joint Community Policing activity at Dheisheh Refugee Camp
Yesterday, EUPOL COPPS and the Palestinian Civilian Police (PCP) staged a joint Community Policing activity at Dheisheh Refugee Camp (RC) – Bethlehem. The ‘back to school’ activity was carried out at the UNRWA girl’s Primary School in Dheisheh, where approximately 150 girls and boys were addressed by the Bethlehem PCP Community Policing Mobile Police Station crew and EUPOL COPPS. Back to school items were handed out to the schoolchildren, and very gratefully received.. An important Community-Oriented Policing activity which has paved the way for more similar outreach in the near future in the framework of EUPOL COPPS support.
Palestinian police officers conclude specialized course on Data Driven-Policing
Earlier this week, employees of the Department of Information received their certificates following recently concluded training courses, the essence of which now enables them to provide better analysis. Meanwhile, a fruitful cooperation has started between the DoI and the CID. This cooperation means that they will work jointly on unsolved crimes. Further training is also foreseen in the coming months. Data driven policing is undoubtedly the future, and EUPOL COPPS stands ready to provide the necessary support in this regard.
EUPOL COPPS delivered a training on the subject of cryptocurrency
This week EUPOL COPPS delivered a training on the subject of cryptocurrency. 26 participants were in attendance, from different teams within the Palestinian Civil Police, including the cybercrime and financial-economic investigation departments. Cryptocurrencies play an ever-growing role in crime, and are often used as a method for money laundering. Apart from the fundamentals of the workings of virtual coins, methods of investigating and seizing cryptocurrencies were discussed. In a very interactive session, the theory of cryptocurrencies was applied to the Palestinian Territories crime situation. The head of the Cybercrime department expressed the wish to follow-up with more in-depth workshops regarding tracing cryptocurrency transactions.
EUPOL COPPS provides equipment to Palestinian Civil Police
This week EUPOL COPPS donated equipment to the internet investigations team, part of the Cybercrime department of the Palestinian Civil Police in Ramallah. The Cybercrime department exists since 2016 and currently employs about 25 people. Cybercrime knows no borders, and the Palestinian Territory is no exception. Over 93% of Palestinians (over 10 years of age) in the West Bank have access to internet, and more than 86% own a cell phone, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, 2022. Cybercrime is an important subject for the Palestinian Civil Police. In 2022 alone, the Cybercrime department dealt with more than 5000 cases. Consequently, Cybercrime remains one of the main priorities of EUPOL COPPS. The Head of the PCP Cybercrime Department stated that the donation is a major contribution to the department, especially when it comes to investigating crimes involving violence against women and children. Previously, only a limited number of police offers at a time could work at the same time on internet investigations. With this donation the efficiency of the department is greatly improved.
4-member delegation of the Palestinian Police School and the local Department of Training and Further Education visited the Institute of Training (IBA) Wertheim and various institutions of the Baden-Württemberg State Police
Within the framework of a 5-day study trip, a 4-member delegation of the Palestinian Police School and the local Department of Training and Further Education visited the Institute of Training (IBA) Wertheim and various institutions of the Baden-Württemberg State Police. Throughout the visit, the participants were given an overview of the organisation and structure of police training as well as interesting and exciting insights into the work of the trainers. The delegation was shown the latest developments in the field of training through state-of-the-art digital systems, such as virtual reality scenarios. The delegation was also able to visit and to get an idea of the work of the command and situation Centre, where all emergency calls and police operations are coordinated. Visiting a local Police Station, a presentation was delivered on the importance of collaboration between the institute's training departments and the police departments. One of the highlights was the visit to the K9 Unit, where the delegation learnt more about how the dogs are trained. Another highlight was the visit to the Training Centre Rescue and Help (TCRH). The training possibilities in the field of rescuing buried persons after natural disasters or explosions, for example, were demonstrated in an impressive way. The Palestinian delegation was very enthusiastic about the presentations and training opportunities. The next step is the incorporation of the findings of the study visit into into the Palestinian Training System with the help of the training advisers from EUPOL COPPS.
Building awareness on constitutional principles and jurisprudence is fundamental to upholding the rule of law
This week, in Ramallah, the Mission organised, together with the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) a workshop for 22 law practitioners (of which 12 women) with the objective of raising awareness on constitutional principles resulting from the rulings of the Court. The workshop emphasised the contribution of the constitutional jurisdiction to establishing a legal order based on the fundamental principles enshrined in the Basic Law and the role of the Supreme Constitutional Court’s jurisprudence as source of standards for interpretation and application of the law by regular courts.
The Head of EUPOL COPPS Police Advisory Section met with the PCP Bethlehem District Commander
Earlier this week, the Head of EUPOL COPPS Police Advisory Section, together with the District Coordinator and General Policing Advisers met with the PCP Bethlehem District Commander. EUPOL COPPS is on the cusp of launching a Pilot Project within the Bethlehem District; a project that will see the Police Advisers (in thirteen areas of expertise) work together with the PCP towards the enhancement of the global performance of the District. This will be done by developing the necessary activities needed in order to ensure that the PCP delivers the best police services to the population. To this effect, the scope of this preparatory meeting with the District Commander was to get the project off the ground and for EUPOL COPPS to explain the proposed approach and ideas. During the meeting the District Commander shared a number of ideas as well as challenges that are being faced by the district, proposing solutions that can be implemented to improve the work of the PCP in the district. In the coming weeks, it is envisaged that all EUPOL COPPS Police Advisors will conduct missions to the district in order to exchange ideas and discuss concrete ways forward with the various Heads of Offices and Branches, putting their experience at the disposal of the PCP. EUPOL COPPS reiterates its support to the work of the PCP.
The Head of Mission of EUPOL COPPS hosted the Chief of Police and the Attorney General at HQ in Ramallah
The Head of Mission of EUPOL COPPS this morning hosted the Chief of Police and the Attorney General at HQ in Ramallah for a signing ceremony of the manual on Seized Items for both AGO and PCP. The Head of Mission expressed gratitude and appreciation for the continuous and excellent cooperation and coordination between the AGO, the PCP and EUPOL COPPS. EUPOL COPPS experts have been working closely in tandem with the members of the MoU Implementation Group (MIG) and its Seized Items sub-committee upon drafting a manual on Seized Items, the main objective of which is to provide both the PP and PCP staff working in the field with a practical and concise guidance to elucidate the roles, responsibilities and procedures involving those engaged in storing and administering confiscated as well as lost and found items. EUPOL COPPS remains committed to supporting the AGO and PCP in utilizing the manual, and in all endeavours to ensure and dispense justice and security to the Palestinian citizens.
A specialized training on the Regulatory Impact Assessment Document
EUPOLCOPPS, in cooperation with the Council of Ministers, concluded a two-day training on the Regulatory Impact Assessment document (RIA), provided to 20 legal staff from different PA public institutions. The training focused on the structure of the RIA, its main components, the benefits of RIA to improve the quality of legislation as well as presenting different international models for the trainees. The aim of the training is to provide the trainees with necessary knowledge and skills to follow an appropriate methodology of assessing the impact of legislation before such legislation is drafted. In addition, it aims at improving prioritizing the actual legislative needs and priorities of the government as well as to developing a standardized legal methodology for legislation quality control. A representative of the Council of Ministers said that “this specialized training comes after a series of trainings on the legislative templates that have been provided with the support of EUPOLCOPPS, which showed the need to provide such a specialized training and other similar trainings will follow”.