Police corruption in Palestine: challenges and remedies

Abstract

Police corruption has been cited as a significant problem in many nations across the world, and Palestine is no exception. Based on new unpublished sources, governmental documents and other reports published by civil society groups, qualitative interviews with key stakeholders from inside and outside the police, and the author’s special access to the police force as a former police officer, this thesis is the first attempt to provide a multi-faceted understanding of police corruption in Palestine. This research explores the nature and extent of police corruption in the Palestinian Civil Police (PCP), and traces the major causes for this phenomenon. In doing so, it demonstrates that police corruption goes beyond individual deviance; it is not just related to the abuse of power or “poor management”. Corruption is made possible by the failure of the entire criminal justice system to make laws more reasonable and applicable. It is also made possible by the failure of internal mechanisms of control to work cooperatively with civilian oversight. The engine of corruption is also driven by police occupational culture, which has contributed to the creation of unique forms of police deviance. Moreover, the complexities of the political context have led to the politicization of the police, which in turn has acted as a stimulus for granting the police force de facto immunity from external control. As a result, the erosion of police legitimacy has become a great challenge for police reforms.

In order to combat police corruption in Palestine, this study suggests a new model of police control which distributes the authority of corruption control between the two wings of accountability: while the internal mechanism of control should remain responsible for investigating corruption at the lower levels, serious and systemic corruption cases must be pursued and reviewed by an independent and external mechanism of control. While this study focuses on Palestine and the PCP, it deals with problems and challenges which are common in developing countries. It may therefore be of assistance to those dealing with similar issues elsewhere.