150 policepersons have been testing body cameras for Israel Police and the project is being viewed as success. As such, the department hopes to equip most cops with a body camera within the coming two years.

Israel Police Commander Avi Frankel explains he cannot cites numbers regarding complaints filed against police since these are handled by the Justice Ministry Police Complaints Unit. If legal actions are taken against police, the ministry unit handles if. If the matter is disciplinary, the matter is handled by police.

There has been a drastic cut in the number complaints against police for excessive force, dropping from 95 in 2006 as compared to 13 in all of 2016. There has also been a drop in the number of police dismissed from the force for excessive force since 2006.

Tel Aviv District Deputy Chief Assistant Commissioner Yossi Bachar adds body cameras will also assist in cutting complaints in this area during the pilot, the 150 body cameras. Police are now moving into the next phase, signaling an additional NIS 20 million is going to be spent this year to arm police with the recording devices which 78% of the public and 76% of police believe the cameras will improve police performance.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)