Police Detention Methods to Be Reviewed

Israel’s senior law enforcement officials have gained cabinet approval for a comprehensive review of police methods in making arrests for purposes of interrogation.

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan proposed the designation of a panel to examine police practice and recommend policy guidelines in light of alleged abuses of the authority to detain people.

As Shaked said on Sunday morning: “The police and the State Prosecutor’s office make excessive use of confiscation tools and detentions. In 2017, of the more than 60,000 arrests, only 25,000 resulted in indictments,” according to Arutz Sheva.

“Confiscations at the beginning of investigations, as well, are exaggerated and lack proportion in contrast to confiscations at the end of legal proceedings. Thus, suspects against whom an indictment was not filed find themselves unable to manage their family expenses. This is a very serious blow to innocent people,” she said.

The committee will be charged with making a comprehensive review of the detention process, including the arrest stage, reception of the detainee, placement in a detention facility, bringing him before a judge to extend his detention until his release with or without conditions, while taking into account the reasons for the detention and the rights of detainees.

The committee is to be chaired by Justice (Ret.) Shulamit Dotan and will include senior members of law enforcement agencies and representatives of the private sector and academia. The committee is expected to submit its recommendations to the government within six months.