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EUPOL COPPS support Palestinian Corrections and Rehabilitation Center Department and Civil Police in improving penitentiary and detention conditions through an EU and international integrated approach

EUPOL COPPS support Palestinian Corrections and Rehabilitation Center Department and Civil Police in improving penitentiary and detention conditions through an EU and international integrated approach

In order to improve the conditions of penitentiary and detention in the  districts EUPOL COPPS Head of Mission (HoM), Karin Limdal, the Office of the European Union Representative for the Palestinians (EUREP), the Director of the International Office for Drugs and Crime (INL) Dan Katz, and the Chief of the Palestinian Civil Police (PCP), Major General Allam Al-Saqqa, paid a joint visit to Bethlehem District on 7 November. The HoM and the named international and Palestinian partners visited the Bethlehem prison and the holding cells in the Bethlehem police district HQ and held meetings with the stakeholders. Following the decision by the Ministry of Justice to close the existing Bethlehem Corrections and Rehabilitation Center (CRC), the visit to a potential site of a future Bethlehem CRC was also included in the program. Located in a rented, former residential building in the city center, surrounded by other residential buildings, the prison is not constructed for correctional purposes and there is a clear need for a venue meeting international standard, with sufficient space to conduct correctional and rehabilitation activities. Similarly, infrastructure and facilities of the holding cells need to be adjusted. The delegation discussed the importance of applying a holistic approach to overcrowding where legislative amendments and the proper application of current legislation will need to be worked on in parallel to address the challenges in the area of penitentiary and detention. The delegation also paid a visit to the Dheisheh refugee camp and the Bethlehem District Police Directorate. 

Improving networking in policing, EUPOL COPPS hands over IT equipment to Hebron Criminal Investigation Department

Improving networking in policing, EUPOL COPPS hands over IT equipment to Hebron Criminal Investigation Department

Police and other Law enforcement agencies around the world are increasingly turning to technology to enhance their capabilities in tackling crime.  Police officers need immediate access to criminal records warrants and vehicle information to efficiently deal with incidents. To improve networking in policing for the purpose, EUPOL COPPS continued the delivery of high-end IT equipment and tablets, which means these devices include advanced processing power, large storage capacity, superior sound quality, and high-resolution displays, for secure and proper data management and transfer to several departments of the Palestinian Civil Police (PCP), on 06 November in Bethlehem. The devices will be used by PCP Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers in the southern West Bank district of Hebron. “The use of these tablets is expected to have a tangible impact on crime solving and marks an important shift from classic police work to digital policing. In this digital era, police must adapt to this technology to stay ahead.” said EUPOL COPPS Senior Advisor Rade Odzic on the occasion.  The delivery is part of the "Bethlehem Pilot Project," started in 2023 and aiming at increasing the Mission's support to Palestinian districts through a needs-based approach in the Security Sector and Rule of Law.        

Palestinian police training coordinators ready to pass on know-how to their peers in the districts

Palestinian police training coordinators ready to pass on know-how to their peers in the districts

Training coordinator’s role in the Police, in Palestine like in Europe, includes overseeing training programmes for their organisation, identifying training needs, developing curricula, scheduling sessions, and evaluating the related effectiveness. To further enhance the ability of the Palestinian Civil Police (PCP) officers in the field of training coordination, EUPOL COPPS organised a three-day Training Coordinators’ workshop for officers working in several Districts, from 4 to 6 November in Ramallah. Eleven PCP District Training Coordinators one officer from the PCP HQ Training Administration and another officer from PCPS participated in the activity. The topics included identifying training gaps and challenges in different districts and how to jointly find solutions, communication and presentation skills, planning, delivering and evaluating, accountability, Gender and Human Rights. According to the participants, the timing of the workshop was relevant since coordination and discussions amongst the Palestinian police training coordinators are particularly difficult at present due to the escalation of the conflict in the Region. Thanks to the workshop the officers had the opportunity to work side by side for three days, including with European partners.   “This training shows us the best ways forward on how to work as training coordinators, which we will make good use of for next year,” said Lieutenant Colonel Majed Sabra, Head of Planning at the Training Administration of the PCP Headquarters.    

Reinforcing Palestinian Judiciary more relevant than ever. EUPOL COPPS’ Head meets the Legal Advisor to the President

Reinforcing Palestinian Judiciary more relevant than ever. EUPOL COPPS’ Head meets the Legal Advisor to the President

Supporting Palestinians reinforcing their institutions for a future State as part of a two-state solution is more relevant than ever under the current circumstances. EUPOL COPPS Head of Mission (HoM), Karin Limdal, and Wael Lafi, Legal Adviser to the Palestinian President, are in full agreement on this very point and on the fact that the judiciary is the cornerstone of such process, when meeting for the first time in Ramallah on 23/10. The current, unprecedented circumstances affecting everybody’s existence in the Region was mentioned, naturally, after the greeting handshakes. How to carry on with the job was at the core of the discussion, focusing on the concrete support from the Mission to the Palestinian judiciary, aiming at overcoming new and longstanding obstacles. The talks included the Mission’s support for the achievement of a more participative and transparent normative framework for the legislative process, which is currently being worked on, in close cooperation especially with the Council of Ministers. How this process could benefit the office of the Legal Adviser was highlighted and further areas of cooperation to be explored were also mentioned. Ms. Limdal underlined the importance of adopting a Law on Family Protection from Violence, as particularly relevant and moreover in any situation of war and conflict. The recently amended Law of Security Services was discussed during the meeting as well as amendments to the Criminal Procedures Code.

Trust only possible through accountability and respect for Human Rights. Palestinian Civil Society Organizations talk to EUPOL COPPS

Trust only possible through accountability and respect for Human Rights. Palestinian Civil Society Organizations talk to EUPOL COPPS

Any Human Rights violation is not acceptable in the EU book, as it is against its core values. In Palestine, as in Europe, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) play a crucial role in promoting peaceful, just and inclusive societies, including in conflict situations. EUPOL COPPS’ Senior Accountability Advisor, Daniel Hoofdman, from The Netherlands, and Areen Dweekat, Human Rights and Gender Officer are working on strengthening the Mission’s cooperation with Palestinian CSOs to gain a comprehensive insight on accountability and human rights, essential for its mentoring role with the Palestinian Civil Police (PCP). This way is advice can include needs-based solutions to accountability challenges. To the purpose, a new phase for EUPOL COPPS and Palestinian NGOs, formalising a structured interaction with working groups meeting every two months, kicked off on 15 October in Ramallah. Several Palestinian CSOs, including, Al-Haq, Hurryat - The Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights, ICHR – The Independent Commission for Human Rights, JLAC – Jerusalem legal Aid and Human Rights Center, MUSAWA – The Palestinian Center for the Independance of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession, SHAMS – Human Rights and Democracy Media Center, WCLAC – Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counseling joined the meeting opened by EUPOL COPPS Head of Mission, Karin Limdal, who clarified: “Because as EUPOL COPPS we don’t have mandate to monitor Human Rights, listening to your advice has a say on our strategic advice”. Impacting on the handling of citizens or possible inadequate addressing of citizen's request by the police, which can also negatively impact public trust in this institution, is among the goals. The penitentiary situation in Palestine and way forward was discussed at the meeting,  with input from the Mission’s Penitentiary Advisor on the treatments of inmates in detention centres, with the clarification to the CSOs interlocutors that the ownership of how security and justice sector institutions for a future Palestinian state work, focusing on reforms, remains with the Palestinian Authority. Examples of model rehabilitation centres such as the Jericho or the newly opened Barghasha Correction and Rehabilitation Centre in Jenin were discussed as way forward. Detention centers’ overcrowding and the need to limit the permanence in holding cells while awaiting trials were also discussed. “Your advising role to us is very important, as Human Rights and Gender are cross cutting themes in all our activities and are being mainstreamed in our everyday work” stressed the Mission’s Accountability Advisor. Palestinian’s CSOs and EUPOL COPPS open and constructive discussions are scheduled to continue despite the unprecedented challenges in the Region of these hours.  

Open-Source tools supersede conventional investigation methods

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

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

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

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

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.