NCJ Number
199436
Journal
Innovation Exchange Issue: 10 Dated: Winter 2003 Pages: 22-27
Date Published
2003
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article argues that even in the face of a number of obstacles, it is possible to increase the number of officers available for field duty in the Israel Police (IP), but only if there is a reforming of the force's basic structure and the approach to its work.
Abstract
Any assessment of IP personnel needs must accept that the Ministry of Finance is not likely to provide the funds to significantly increase the number of IP personnel. Two solutions to this problem are feasible, albeit difficult to implement, and would not require extra resources from outside the police. One solution is to downsize the regular force in favor of an ad hoc force. The new force under this plan will in fact be two forces: a full-time skilled skeleton force that commands a much larger "prevention and visibility" force and a temporary force hired by a contractor and paid by the hour to be used only as needed. The latter force would wield police power only when on assigned duty. The advantages of this model are that it is cheaper; is easier to obtain funding in an ad hoc employment of forces in time of crisis; is conducive to improved quality and service-orientation of frontline officers; requires a focus on preventive policing; enables the allocation of more officers at times of peak demand; and provides a pool of part-time officers who can be recruited to full-time status. The second strategy would be to change the basic principles for determining the structure and operations of local police stations. The number of personnel involved in investigation and intelligence would be cut back in order to increase the number of officers involved in front-line preventive policing and services to citizens. Investigation and intelligence work would be concentrated at the District levels and given higher work priority. Disadvantages as well as advantages to these two approaches are discussed.