In its first week of operation Bnei Brak's community patrol
removed from parks dozens of young loiterers, mostly from
other cities, for disturbing the peace late at night.
The special patrol car was initiated by Mayor Rabbi Yissochor
Frankentahl following complaints about youth who were
perturbing passersby and making noise late into the night.
The patrol responds to complaints received at the municipal
hotline (106) as well as reports from other sources. Among
the parks where the patrol took action were the park on
Rechov Daniel, where dozens of youths often gathered, lit a
fire and played loud music until after midnight. The patrol
is run by Chaim Rogelblatt, director of the Department of
Emergency Services, and David Azoulai, director of the
Department of Municipal Supervision.
The community patrol, which is operated jointly by the
municipality and the police, also enforces municipal
ordinances and cracks down on Arabs and others staying there
illegally.
Bnei Brak Secretary and Spokesman Rabbi Avrohom Tannenbaum
said despite the impression many residents have, only the
police—and not municipal inspectors—are
authorized to act against Arabs without permits. The
municipality can only assist the police and notify the police
where illegal visitors are waiting or lodging.
Recently policemen from the Dan District, with assistance
from the municipality, took action at two locations: Sderot
Eisenstein and Rechov Mivtza Kodesh. Dozens of workers were
boarding illegally in rented rooms at both sites.
On Rechov Mivtza Kodesh they had taken up lodgings in cluster
of rooms that looked like a grocery store from the street.
The landlord was a Herzliya resident. The police issued
complaints against both sites and are planning to file
indictments.
