Israel's incompetent police officers

Comptroller's report: Israel Police hired candidates who failed to meet minimal standards

Omri Efraim|Published: 10.30.11 , 21:57

An Interior Ministry Comptroller's report has revealed disturbing failures in the Israel Police's recruitment procedures, Ynet has learned.

According to the report, which was prepared by Comptroller Yitzhak Segev and refers to the years 2008-2009, some 35% of police recruits failed to meet the minimum standards set by the police's manpower directorate. More than 100 police officers apparently failed to pass the recruitment tests, or alternately did not meet the basic admission requirements to begin with, the report charged.

The comptroller said that 25 police investigators hired by the police during the period under scrutiny were among the group of incompetent candidates.

The report also found that 45% of candidates who were found unsuitable following a short trial run were nonetheless hired by the police. Moreover, some 80 candidates who were rejected several times were ultimately hired to the police's administrative branch without receiving the required police commissioner's approval.

Responding to the findings, the Israel Police issued the following statement: "Back in the former commissioner's term in office already, the police started the process of implementing the report's recommendations and approved changes to the recruitment procedures."