RAMALLAH, November 24, 2009 (WAFA)- The Higher Judicial Council (HJC) and the Palestinian Civil Police (PCP) concluded today a two-day workshop on traffic accidents, vehicle theft and transport of hazardous goods, coordinated by EUPOL COPPS and supervised by Italian experts.

The majority of traffic violations are handled by Palestinian courts and as a result a very large percentage of cases are related to traffic. In this context, the aim of the workshop has been to find ways to relieve Palestinian courts of this burden.

The Head of the Educational Department at the HJC, Judge Raed Abdul Hamid, the Head of the PCP Investigation Department, Brigadier Jaber Asfour, and 35 senior Traffic Police officers participated in the workshop.

The Italian trainers were General Balduino Simone, Chief Inspectors Roberto Pes and Antonio Paglino.

The Italian Consul in Jerusalem Francesco Santillo and the Deputy Head of Mission of EUPOL COPPS, Ari Sarjanen, were present in the closing ceremony.

In a lecture on the difficulties in the Palestinian legal system and the courts dealing with traffic violation Judge Raed Abdul Hamid said:“Police officers and courts are the first to suffer from the accumulation of cases due to car theft and other violations of the law. Continuous cooperation between the judiciary and the police is necessary to counter this obstacle.”

Brigadier Asfour affirmed that: “Stealing cars and selling them has become a culture. We have to work to change this and prevent its social acceptance.”

Italian General Balduino Simone, who focused on international law and agreements dealing with the transportation of hazardous goods, traffic safety, public security and vehicle registration systems, stressed that: “Traffic security and the fight against illegality is a fundamental step for development, progress and peace in every country.”

Deputy HoM of EUPOL COPPS, Mr Ari Sarjanen, closed the ceremony and praised the effort of the PCP in the field of traffic control: “During the last few months the PCP has made great efforts to improve the traffic situation in the West Bank and we have noticed clear results on the ground.”

The seminar has been organised in the framework of the Italian Government’s comprehensive project to strengthen the Palestinian Traffic Police unit, through EUPOL COPPS, and which is based on three pillars: vehicles, equipment and training.