News
Open-Source tools supersede conventional investigation methods
An open-source investigation (OSINT) uses intelligence gathering techniques and technologies, including satellite imagery, social media posts and user-generated content to tap into vast amounts of publicly available online information, including in criminal investigation. Open-source techniques involve researching, selecting, archiving and analysing information from publicly available sources. The mechanism can include analysing an Internet Protocol (IP) address, to searching public governmental records. EUPOL COPPS organised a three-day OSINT training for 15 members of the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC, dealing with corruption investigation and witness protection, on 01 October in Ramallah . Hapet Halici is the Mission’s Dutch Cyber Crime Adviser who delivered the training as part of EU efforts to enhance the criminal justice and policing in Palestine. During the training, the participants familiarised themselves with topics such as storage of information online, using search engines effectively, making reports during OSINF, how to use Streetview, with practical exercises and reverse images analysis. “This training is at the core of our work,” said Neveen Kuhail, from PACC Investigation Department. “It provided us with some tips that help unveil simple and mysterious cases,” she added. “The learning process of how to use open-source tools is constantly evolving, very relevant as it provides core elements and tools in conducting open-source investigations and also case studies to analyse the fundamentals of online search and research techniques for investigations,” said Mr. Halici. This training is part of the mission capacity building support to the Anti-Corruption Commission, as a follow up to the Basic training that was delivered by the mission to the PACC on the 29th of April this year.
Palestinian police officers mentor their fellows after EUPOLCOPPS’ training
The Training of Trainers (ToT) model is intended to engage master trainers in coaching new trainers that are less experienced on a particular topic. A ToT event can build a pool of competent instructors ready to pass on their know-how to their colleagues. The four ToT sessions that EUPOL COPPS had delivered so far to five officers of the Department of Information (DoI) of the Palestinian Civil Police (PCP) started bearing fruit. The five trained PCP officers from the Department of Information (DoI) shared their acquired skills in delivering presentations to the EUPOL COPPS Police advisers from Germany and Canada who formed them on 30 September, in Ramallah. The Head of DoI, Brigadier Shehadeh Amer, said that the officers, now trainers, are now ready to pass the information to other 31 DoI officers working in 11 West Bank districts. “It was a very useful training. The content was very intense,” said Amer. “The training will contribute to combating crime,” he added. “It was a pleasure to work with our motivated Palestinian colleagues” said Christian Muller, a German Senior EUPOL COPPS Police Adviser - General Policing after distributing certificates to the trainees, together with Brigadier Amer. During the past four sessions, EUPOL COPPS advisers provided hands-on learning techniques to the participants who worked on several well-established models including the “SMART”, which mean that the goals to achieve should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, and the “GROW”, good for problem solving by looking at Goal, Reality, Obstacles (or Options), and Way forward. “Before attending this course, I was hesitant to deliver a presentation. But now I am very capable of delivering training to a large audience,” said colonel Mohammad Qarariyyeh after he held his PowerPoint presentation.
Palestinian inmates’ detention conditions in the West Bank improved
Sitting on a hilly slope in the countryside near Jenin, in the Northern West Bank, the EU-funded Palestinian Civil Police (PCP) Barghasha Correction and Rehabilitation Centre is now up and running. This is the result of a joint effort between the Palestinian Authority, EUPOL COPPS and the Office of European Union Representative to Palestine. Upholding international standards, this nearly 5,000 square metre facility designed to partially solve the issue of overcrowding, is an institution aiming at reintegrating inmates into the society, ultimately contributing to the overarching mission of promoting public safety through offenders’ rehabilitation. Regardless of their sentencing, the inmates of the Barghasha Centre have access to a number of activities, including recreational, and, importantly, also to education, providing some the chance of getting get a university degree while in detention. Currently the one-story building is home to 72 inmates, seven of them are female. The facility can take up to 252 prisoners. EUPOL COPPS Head of Mission, Karin Limdal, paid a visit to the facility with the European Union Representative in Palestine, Alexandre Stutzmann, the Palestinian Minister of Interior, and the Chief of the PCP on 25 of September, to have an overview of the situation, before the official inauguration next month. “Within the context of the criminal justice system, rehabilitation of inmates constitutes a pivotal component aimed at reforming and reintegrating individuals into society,” said Ms. Limdal during the visit. “Shifting from punitive measures toward fostering positive behavioral change leads to a successful reintegration of offenders into society as law-abiding and productive citizens,” she added. EUPOL COPPS penitentiary advisers, supporting the PCP Correction and Rehabilitation Centres’s work, were also at the Barghasha Centre, being this one of their main focus of their activities for enhancing Palestinian capacities according to international standards.
Support for the Palestinian security sector more relevant than ever. EUPOL COPPS Head of Mission visits Nablus
EUPOL COPPS’ role in supporting the Palestinian Civil Police (PCP) is more relevant than ever against the backdrop of an increasingly dramatic situation in the region. Within this context, the Mission’s leader, Karin Limdal, and her homologue, the Chief of the Palestinian police, Major General Allam Al-Saqqa, paid a visit to the West Bank city of Nablus to assess the needs of the police to highlight priority areas for support, on 24 September. During the visit, pressing needs including the renovation of the PCP buildings in the city and shortage of vehicles were identified. While in Nablus EUPOL COPPS’ HoM also visited the district’s correction and rehabilitation centre established back in 1994 and refurbished in 2020. “I would like to seize this opportunity to express our willingness to continue our support for the PCP. Your work is very important, especially in such harsh circumstances”, said Ms Limdal while in Nablus with Major General Saqqa. “Our advisers stand ready to share their expertise with yours” she added. When in Nablus the HoM praised the steadfastness of the police as civil servants amidst the ongoing difficult circumstances. EUPOL COPPS is committed to supporting the PCP with the right means so that the best possible service is delivered to the citizens.
Why combatting wildlife and nature crime is key for Palestine security and institution building
A swallow, an eagle or an owl are not simply beautiful birds. An owl can for example eat about 5000 rats per year. Quite an asset if you consider the danger and the financial and environmental cost of poisoning chemicals. Internationally, wildlife criminality is in the top 10 most profitable activities for criminal organisations. Palestine makes no exception. Furthermore, environmental threats, global in nature, are exacerbated in situations of conflict. This is why EUPOL COPPS Environmental Investigation Adviser held a joint lecture on combatting wildlife and nature crime with the director of the Palestinian Society for Environment and Sustainable Development, Sa’ed Shomaly, attended by 19 officers from several Palestinian Civil Police (PCP) branches, on 17 September in Bethlehem. The Palestinian PCP officers joining the event, held in the multipurpose room furbished by EUPOL COPPS are from the Environmental Crime Unit and the Investigation Unit (Bethlehem and Hebron Branches) and the Palestinian College for Police Sciences (Jericho). An officer from the Palestinian Customs Service and two inspectors from the Environmental Quality Authority completed the group. Although small, Palestine is home to a precious and huge biodiversity (379 kind of birds, 42 types of reptiles, 98 species of mammals), which is under threat, as the Palestinian environmental expert detailed about, showing real case videos of captured eagles and hyenas cubs being freed and released in the environment they belong to, as examples. The expert on Palestinian Wildlife talked about the importance of protecting the local biodiversity, detailed on the illegal wildlife market, and the importance of cooperation and the rehabilitation of rescued animals. EUPOL COPPS Environmental expert detailed on international Conventions and investigations, the importance of cooperation among agencies and authorities and the relevance of cooperation with civil society. The pertinence of accurate reporting and investigating on the profits of such crimes and on animal cruelty was also discussed in a climate of high interaction and palpable genuine interest in the room. The joint lecture was facilitated by the Hanns-Seidel-Foundation, a German NGO and coordinated by the Training Coordinator from the PCP Bethlehem Directorate.
Working towards a judiciary modeled on international standards despite it all. EUPOL COPPS facilitated Palestinian judges’ activities in Sweden
Heavy restrictions and obstacles affect the movement of Palestinians, including professionals working in the judiciary system, as going from one city to another often implies passage closures. While there is a need to strengthen the capacity of legal staff in Palestinian institutions on law making, policy planning, and quality control while advancing gender equality, the training of judges in person, is very difficult. To support its Palestinians counterparts serving in judicial institutions filling a gap on their capacity strengthening, EUPOL COPPS facilitated a Study visit to Stockholm, Sweden, for representatives of the Palestinian Judicial Institute (PJI) and High Judicial Council (HJC), hosted by The Swedish National Court Administration (SNCA), from 9 to 13 September. The overall objective of the visit was to enhance the capacity of the PJI in court management skills, designing new trainings and producing e-learning courses through exchanges with the SNCA. In Stockholm the Palestinian professionals visited several venues, learning about competence portal and internal training, including the Swedish Prosecution Agency, with focus on prosecution training, the local office of Swedish National Court Administration and a Swedish court, exploring different digital means enabling for online court sessions. Although the PJI, has a long-standing cooperation with the SNCA, the study visit has been the occasion to formally kick off a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the parties on future cooperation for training, in the making as of 2023 and delayed due to the worsening of security situation in the Middle East over the last year. EUPOL COPPS has advised on and facilitated the drafting and signing of the MoU. Participating virtually to the signing ceremony for the MoU from Ramallah, EUPOL COPPS Head of Mission, Karin Limdal, commended the “enormous resilience” of the Palestinian counterparts in carrying on with their work delivering justice, “despite all obstacles”. Professional training of judges and prosecutors constitutes “one of the fundamental guarantees of independence and the impartiality of judges in the exercise of their functions”, added the HoM, stressing that training is an essential component of any efficient legal system striving for providing high quality justice.
Sustainability as key to effectiveness: new Palestinian Bethlehem District Commander leadership endorses Bethlehem Pilot Project
Rolling hills located 765 m above sea level, stretching out eastward towards the desert provide stunning views of an ancient landscape of vineyards, olive trees, and tiny villages. This is the road to Bethlehem that EUPOL COPPS experts ride when conducting regular work in this West Bank city and its districts. The very challenging situation everyone is experiencing in the Middle East at present is at least for a moment taken out of the mind by the beauty of such a view, admirable also from the spot where the Bethlehem police district lies. EUPOL COPPS Deputy Head of Security Sector Reform Section, Rade Odzic, has an important task to carry out on 11 September, when he meets for the first time with his Palestinian counterpart, the newly appointed District Commander, internationally trained and educated, Colonel Murad Quindah: setting the pace for “sustainability” of all the planned activities of the ongoing “Bethlehem Pilot Project”. Discussing issues such as coordination and cooperation between the security sector and the judiciary, implementation of Human Rights and Gender aspects in planning and implementation of projects and the upholding of the Rule of Law, including on accountability, the two are on the same page. What needs to be done now, is stepping out the engagement in the Palestinian districts. To the purpose, the two committed to meet the first week of every month and to apply the utmost flexibility to get along and overcome any challenges, for the good and the future of the Palestinian people.
EUPOL COPPS handover of IT equipment in Bethlehem makes sense for enhanced networking in policing
“When most of us made the choice, at a young age, to join the police in our respective countries we chose to protect. We chose to implement the rule of law for the good of our people”, says EUPOL COPPS Deputy Head Security Sector Reform Section Rade Odzic to his colleagues from several Palestinian Civil Police departments on 03 September in Bethlehem. Next to him sits the former local Police District Commander, Brigadier Mohammed Abu Rub. The occasion is the handover of top of the range IT equipment, tablets for secure and correct handling and transferring of data, which is increasingly important to effective, modern policing everywhere, to the PCP Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The handover is combined with a related, internal, PCP training bringing together several units, so that officers covering different topics can work hand-on on real scenarios and solutions, including info-exchange and cooperation. Other Palestinian units joining the event and training on networking and info sharing are from the Family Juvenile Protection Department (FJUD), the Judicial police and Traffic police, plus one investigator, a district commander and a training coordinator. Criminal investigators build evidence-based cases for submission to relevant justice institutions by using centralised data collection systems. For such a process to take place in a correct way, officers have to be able to rely on a safe and secure information exchange. Managing the electronically and correctly the flow of information is also key to prevent leaking of information can endanger individuals or jeopardise an operation and/or an investigation. “The significance of this handover is not merely technical. These tablets will substantially contribute to the PCP enhancement of security” said the District Commander, thanking EUPOL COPPS for the continuous commitment towards the Palestinian security sector reform. EUPOL COPPS handover of equipment is conducted within the framework of the “Bethlehem Pilot Project” started in 2023, aiming at increasing the Mission’s support to Palestinian districts through a needs-based approach in the field of Security Sector and Rule of Law. “As Europeans, we all dream of visiting the historical city of Bethlehem” said Rade Odzic to his Palestinian fellow police officers, hoping, as all in the room, in a return to calmer waters once the current unprecedented crisis affecting the Middle eastern region will be over.
EUPOL COPPS Family and Juvenile Protection coaching session held in Bethlehem
The lights are off in the premises of the Palestinian Civil Police (PCP) Family Protection and Juvenile Department (FPJD) in Bethlehem when EUPOL COPPS Advisor Anna Sanden arrives for a coaching session mid this week. Electricity cuts are just one of the many challenges Palestinians deals with daily, particularly in the current circumstances. Anna is a Swedish police high ranking officer specialised in family protection. At Bethlehem FPJD, the Head of the Department, Col Mohammad Ghannam, welcomes her for an introductory briefing, shows her around, then introduces the officers attending her coaching session: Major Karam an investigator with 11 years’ experience in the PCP, 3 of which at the FPJD and Captain Inshirah, investigator and administrative officer, with 26 years of police experience 9 of which at the FPJD. The session is also an occasion for exchanges of views on best practices and different approaches influenced by the circumstances, as working together always implies “learning from each other”, as both mentor and mentees agree. Two piles of files lie next to the desk where the session takes place. The blue ones are the juvenile cases, the yellow ones enclose files of domestic violence. Together with her Palestinian colleagues, Anna picks a file for the session: a very recent case concerning a minor stopped by the customs police while driving a bus filled various goods, for which he could not provide any kind of documentation. The youngster’s older brother, explain the FPJD officers, was called in when the minor was stopped, however the two attempted fleeing the scene and allegedly physically assaulted the police officers. The core of the coaching session focused on enhancing the efficiency of the FPJD approach in relation to the existing applicable law and the networking with the prosecution, the defense (in this case juvenile councilors) and the social services. Anna emphasised the importance of avoiding detaining young people, highlighting human rights related aspects, including detention to be applied for serious offenses. Her session also focused about the importance of methodology support and guidelines for different kind of crimes. The importance of police officers being able to conduct interrogations based on the PEACE model was also mentioned. Karam previously attended EUPOL COPPS internationally recognis ed PEACE model training, which, said the officer, was very beneficial as it greatly facilitates their work. The model is widely considered to be the best interviewing practice, perceived as a non-accusatory, information gathering approach. With a smile, Anna, Karam and Inshirah expressed mutual gratitude for the session. More sessions for other FPJU Bethlehem and the districts are in Anna’s schedule for the coming weeks.
EUPOL COPPS Train of Trainers a key tool to equip Palestinian police with skills to deliver know-how
What is the Train of Trainers (ToT)? It is a specialised training methodology aimed at forming proficient trainers within an organisation by applying certain models and methodologies. The ToT model reduces reliance on external trainers, saves costs, and enables organisations to cater training sessions to their specific needs. That is exactly why Captain Ali Karamiyeh from the Palestinian Civil Police (PCP) Department of Information (DoI) joined EUPOL COPPS ToT course, on 27 August in Ramallah. Five Palestinian police officers from the DoI attended the course, delivered by two EUPOL COPPS Police Advisers, from Germany and Canada, so that they could enhance their skills on ToT methodology and pass them on to their colleagues in other Palestinian districts. The two presenters provided hands-on learning techniques to the participants who played the role of a trainer during the one-day training session. The Palestinian officers attending the course worked on several well-established models including the “SMART”, which mean that the goals to achieve should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, and the “GROW”, good for problem solving by looking at Goal, Reality, Obstacles (or Options), and Way forward. Brigadier General Shehadeh Amer, Head of DoI said his team would pass the information on to other 31 DoI officers working in 11 West Bank districts. “My team was introduced to a new set of skills that is very useful to foster a culture of continuous learning and to empower trainers to deliver knowledge and skills to others effectively” Brigadier General Amer said. “Two sessions are not enough to grasp all the skills of becoming a professional trainer, however it is a good start,” said captain Karamiyeh at the end of the course.