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Police Law, 5766-2006

חוק המשטרה, תשס"ו-2006

Published: 2006-01-01Last amended 2026-06-15✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-29
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Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

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Despite these checks, it may contain errors, omissions, or imprecise renderings of legal terminology and cross-references, and it may not yet reflect the latest amendments. It cannot be relied upon as a legal text.

The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.

This translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For use in legal proceedings, request a certified Expert Legal Opinion.

Chapter III: Investigation of Officers' Complaints

Definitions§

81.

In this Chapter –

"act" – an act as referred to in section 89, including an omission and a delay in acting;

"prison officer" – as defined in the Prisons Ordinance [New Version], 5732-1971, who has been attached to the Israel Police for a predetermined period and for a specific purpose;

"police officer" – including a military serviceperson on regular service or a military serviceperson on reserve service, unless otherwise stated;

"injured police officer" or "injured prison officer" – a person who regards himself as harmed by an act done in relation to him while he was a police officer or a prison officer, as the case may be.

Qualifications and Appointment of the Police Officers' Complaints Commissioner§

82.
(a)A person is qualified to be appointed as the Police Officers' Complaints Commissioner (in this Law – the Complaints Commissioner) if all of the following conditions are met:
(1)the person is qualified to be appointed as a judge of a District Court;
(2)the person is not a police officer;
(3)the person has professional knowledge, background or experience in fields relevant to the Police;
(4)the person has not been convicted of an offence which, by reason of its nature, gravity or circumstances, renders the person unfit to serve as the Complaints Commissioner.
(b)The Minister, after consulting the Minister of Justice and with the approval of the National Security Committee of the Knesset, shall appoint the Complaints Commissioner.
(c)The term of office of the Complaints Commissioner shall be five years from the date of appointment; the Minister, after consulting the Minister of Justice and with the approval of the National Security Committee of the Knesset, may extend this period for one additional period not exceeding two years.
(d)Notice of the appointment of the Complaints Commissioner and of the address to which complaints are to be sent shall be published in Reshumot (Official Gazette).

Vacation of Office§

83.

The Complaints Commissioner shall cease to hold office before the expiry of the term of office in any of the following circumstances:

(1)the Complaints Commissioner resigned by delivering a letter of resignation to the Minister;
(2)an indictment has been filed against the Complaints Commissioner for an offence which, by reason of its nature, gravity or circumstances, renders the Complaints Commissioner unfit to serve as the Complaints Commissioner.

Removal from Office§

84.

The Minister, in consultation with the Minister of Justice and with the approval of the National Security Committee of the Knesset, may remove the Complaints Commissioner from office before the expiry of the term of office if the Complaints Commissioner has been unable to fulfil the Complaints Commissioner's duties for a period exceeding six consecutive months.

Deputy Complaints Commissioner§

85.
(a)The Minister shall appoint a deputy to the Complaints Commissioner (in this section – the Deputy Commissioner).
(b)If the Complaints Commissioner is temporarily unable to fulfil the Complaints Commissioner's duties, the Deputy Commissioner shall act in the Complaints Commissioner's place for a period not exceeding three months, and the Minister may extend the said period for additional periods, provided that the total of all periods during which the Deputy Commissioner acts in place of the Complaints Commissioner does not exceed six months.
(c)If the office of the Complaints Commissioner has become vacant and no other person has yet been appointed in the Complaints Commissioner's place, the Deputy Commissioner shall act in the Complaints Commissioner's place until the appointment of the Complaints Commissioner as referred to in section 82.

Persons Entitled to Submit a Complaint§

86.

An injured police officer, an injured prison officer or a person on their behalf may submit a complaint, provided that such person is not a police officer or a prison officer, as the case may be; and if the injured police officer or the injured prison officer has died – the injured officer's parent, spouse, son or daughter, brother or sister.

The Respondent§

87.

A complaint may be submitted against a person who, at the time of the act, was a police officer (in this Chapter – the respondent).

Submission of a Complaint§

88.

A complaint shall be submitted in writing, directly to the Complaints Commissioner, and shall be signed by the person submitting it (in this Chapter – the complainant); the complaint shall specify all of the following:

(1)the name, personal number, rank, role and address of the injured police officer or the injured prison officer, and the police unit to which the officer is or was attached; if the complainant is a person other than the injured police officer or the injured prison officer, the name and address of the complainant shall also be specified;
(2)the identity particulars of the respondent, and if the complainant does not have such particulars – any detail that may assist in identifying the respondent;
(3)a detailed description of the act, including the harm caused as a result thereof, the date on which it occurred, the identity of witnesses if any, and any other relevant detail that may assist in the efficient investigation of the complaint;
(4)if an approach has been made to an official body, police or otherwise, on the subject of the complaint – the identity of that body and its response, if received.

Subject Matter of a Complaint§

89.

The subject matter of a complaint is an act in which all of the following conditions are met:

(1)it relates to the service in the Police of a police officer or prison officer;
(2)it directly harms or directly withholds a benefit from a police officer or a prison officer;
(3)it was done without lawful authority, or it is contrary to legislation, to orders or to binding directives of the Israel Police, or to proper administration, or there is some other legal defect therein, or it involves arbitrariness, excessive rigidity or manifest injustice.

Complaints Not Subject to Investigation§

90.

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 89, the following complaints shall not be investigated:

(1)a complaint relating to a matter in respect of which proceedings are pending before a court, a tribunal or a single adjudicator, or in respect of which a judgment has been given by a court or a tribunal or a decision has been given by a single adjudicator;
(2)a complaint against a judicial act of a tribunal or of a single adjudicator;
(3)a complaint against an act that constitutes an offence in connection with which an investigation has been or is being conducted pursuant to law;
(4)a complaint concerning a matter in respect of which a complaint has already been submitted to the State Comptroller in the State Comptroller's capacity as Public Complaints Commissioner pursuant to section 45a of the State Comptroller Law, 5718-1958 [Consolidated Version].

Complaints Whose Investigation Requires Special Cause§

91.

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 89, the following complaints shall not be investigated unless the Complaints Commissioner has found, for reasons to be recorded, that special cause exists justifying their investigation:

(1)a complaint, not enumerated in section 90, concerning a matter in respect of which a decision has been given against which an objection, appeal or further appeal was or could have been submitted;
(2)a complaint submitted after one year has elapsed from the date of the act that is the subject of the complaint, or from the date on which the complainant became aware of the said act;
(3)a complaint against an act that by its nature is appropriate to be investigated by the commander of the injured police officer or the injured prison officer, or by another body within the Israel Police;
(4)a complaint against an act whose harm to the injured police officer or the injured prison officer is minimal;
(5)a complaint concerning a matter that has been or is being investigated as a grievance by another body lawfully empowered to do so within the Israel Police, including by an examining officer or an examining committee appointed pursuant to Israel Police orders, or within the Ministry of Public Security;
(6)a complaint against a person who has ceased to be a police officer before the investigation thereof, and which relates to conduct of a personal character.

Opening of the Investigation§

92.
(a)Upon submission of a complaint, the Complaints Commissioner shall acknowledge its receipt.
(b)The Complaints Commissioner shall commence the investigation of the complaint, unless the Complaints Commissioner finds that one of the following applies or that the complaint is not worthy of investigation for another reason to be recorded:
(1)the complaint does not fulfil a requirement of sections 86, 87 or 89;
(2)the complaint does not fulfil, in a material particular, a requirement of section 88;
(3)the complaint cannot be investigated for one of the reasons enumerated in sections 90 or 91;
(4)the complaint is vexatious or frivolous.
(c)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), if the complaint raises, on its face, a suspicion that a criminal offence has been committed, the Complaints Commissioner shall notify the Police Investigation Department at the Ministry of Justice, or another authority lawfully empowered to investigate the offence, as the case may be, and shall continue the investigation of the complaint in coordination therewith.
(d)If the Complaints Commissioner has decided not to commence the investigation of the complaint as referred to in subsection (b), the Complaints Commissioner shall notify the complainant in writing that the complaint will not be investigated, and shall state the grounds therefor.
(e)If the Complaints Commissioner has decided not to commence the investigation of the complaint as referred to in subsection (b), and finds that there is special cause justifying the referral of the complaint for investigation by another body within the Israel Police, the Complaints Commissioner may refer the complaint to that body, provided that the injured police officer or the injured prison officer has consented thereto.

Methods of Investigation§

93.
(a)The Complaints Commissioner may investigate the complaint in any manner the Complaints Commissioner sees fit, and is not bound by rules of procedure or rules of evidence.
(b)The Complaints Commissioner shall bring the complaint to the attention of the respondent and of the respondent's commander, and shall give them an opportunity to respond to it, and may require them to respond to the complaint within the period specified in the requirement.
(c)If the Complaints Commissioner considers that another person may be adversely affected by the investigation itself or by its outcomes, the Complaints Commissioner shall notify that person accordingly and give that person an opportunity to present arguments within a period to be determined.
(d)The provisions of sections 9 to 11 of the Commissions of Inquiry Law, 5729-1968, with the necessary modifications according to the matter, shall apply to the investigation before the Complaints Commissioner or before a person authorised by the Complaints Commissioner for that purpose, and the provisions of section 27(b) of that Law shall also apply to a person who is not a police officer or a prison officer who has been summoned to appear before the Complaints Commissioner.
(e)The provisions of subsections (c) and (d) do not derogate from the provisions of Chapter III of the Evidence Ordinance.
(f)The investigation of the complaint shall be concluded as soon as possible, and within a period not exceeding one year from the date of its submission.

Provision of Assistance§

94.
(a)A police officer shall not do anything that may prevent, delay, obstruct or disrupt the submission of a complaint to the Complaints Commissioner, its referral or its investigation.
(b)A police officer shall comply with a requirement of the Complaints Commissioner or of a person authorised by the Complaints Commissioner for that purpose, to provide a professional opinion, and any other information or assistance required to advance the investigation of a complaint.

Discontinuation of the Investigation§

95.
(a)The Complaints Commissioner shall discontinue the investigation of a complaint if he has found that one of the grounds justifying a refusal to open an investigation thereof pursuant to this Chapter has been fulfilled, and may discontinue it in any of the following:
(1)the complainant has withdrawn his complaint and has stated his reasons therefor;
(2)the Complaints Commissioner has found that the subject matter of the complaint has been remedied or that it is not possible to reach a determination thereon;
(3)the respondent has ceased to be a police officer and the complaint relates to conduct of a personal nature.
(b)Where the Complaints Commissioner has discontinued the investigation of a complaint, he shall deliver a reasoned notice thereof, in writing, to the complainant, the respondent and the respondent's commanding officer.

Outcomes of the Investigation§

96.
(a)Where the Complaints Commissioner has found that the complaint was justified, in whole or in part, he shall deliver a reasoned notice thereof, in writing, to the complainant, the respondent, the respondent's commanding officer, any other entity within the Israel Police that he deems appropriate, and to a senior police officer authorised therefor by the Inspector General; the Complaints Commissioner may set out in his notice a summary of his findings and may indicate to any entity within the Police the need to remedy a deficiency or wrong that arose from the investigation and recommend the manner of remedying them or preventing their recurrence.
(b)Where the Complaints Commissioner has made a recommendation as referred to in subsection (a), the police officer authorised as referred to in that subsection shall notify the Complaints Commissioner, in writing, as soon as possible but no later than two months from the date of receipt of the recommendation, of the steps taken to implement it; where no such steps have been taken, the police officer shall state that fact, together with the reasons therefor.
(c)Where the Complaints Commissioner has found that the complaint was not justified, he shall deliver a reasoned notice thereof, in writing, to the complainant, the respondent, the respondent's commanding officer and any other entity within the Israel Police that he deems appropriate, and may set out therein a summary of his findings.
(d)Where the investigation of a complaint has given rise to a suspicion that a criminal offence has been committed, the Complaints Commissioner shall notify the Department for the Investigation of Police Officers within the Ministry of Justice or another authority empowered by law to investigate the offence thereof; where the investigation of the complaint has given rise to a suspicion that a disciplinary offence has been committed, the Complaints Commissioner shall notify the Head of the Human Resources Division of the Israel Police thereof.
(e)Disciplinary proceedings shall not be taken against a police officer or prison officer whose complaint was found to be unjustified, unless the Complaints Commissioner has determined that the complaint was false and has recommended to the Head of the Human Resources Division of the Israel Police or — to the Head of Staff of the Prison Service, as the case may be, to take disciplinary proceedings against him.

Limitations on the Notice§

97.
(a)A notice of the Complaints Commissioner pursuant to section 96 shall not include or disclose material or information the disclosure of which is prohibited pursuant to the provisions of sections 44 or 45 of the Evidence Ordinance.
(b)Where the Complaints Commissioner has found that his notice is liable to include or disclose material or information as referred to in subsection (a) and no Minister has expressed his opinion pursuant to sections 44 or 45 referred to in that subsection, the Complaints Commissioner shall request the opinion of the Minister concerned before delivering his notice.
(c)In a notice of the outcomes of the investigation, the Complaints Commissioner shall be exempt from notifying his findings and reasons in any of the following:
(1)where the complaint concerned appointment to a specific position or promotion in rank, or concerned the content of an opinion regarding the aggrieved police officer or the aggrieved prison officer with respect to his dismissal from the Police;
(2)where their disclosure is liable, in his opinion, to unlawfully harm the right of a person other than the complainant;
(3)where, in his opinion, their disclosure constitutes disclosure of a professional secret or confidential information within their meaning under any law;
(4)where, in his opinion, their disclosure is liable to harm good order or discipline in the Police.

Rights and Remedies§

98.
(a)The decisions and findings of the Complaints Commissioner in respect of a complaint shall not —
(1)confer upon the complainant or any other person a right or remedy in disciplinary proceedings, before a tribunal or before a court, that he did not previously have;
(2)prevent the complainant or any other person from exercising a right or seeking a remedy to which he is entitled; however, if a time limit has been fixed therefor in legislation, orders or binding directives within the Israel Police, the time limit shall not be extended by the submission of the complaint or the investigation thereof.
(b)The decisions of the Complaints Commissioner pursuant to this Chapter are final and may not be appealed before a court.

Duty of Confidentiality§

99.

The Complaints Commissioner and every other person by whose assistance the Complaints Commissioner performs his functions are obliged to keep in confidence any information that has come to their knowledge in the framework of their functions, and not to disclose it, save for the purpose of performing what is incumbent upon them pursuant to this Chapter.

Report§

100.

The Complaints Commissioner shall submit to the Minister and present before the National Security Committee of the Knesset, annually, a written report on his activities, which shall contain a general review and a description of the handling of a selection of complaints, and may submit to them a report whenever he deems it appropriate to do so.

Independence of the Complaints Commissioner§

101.

The Complaints Commissioner is subject to no authority in matters of the performance of his functions pursuant to this Chapter other than the authority of the law.

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