Zero tolerance for violence: A special security unit of the Ministry of Transportation has begun operating on public transportation in several cities in Israel.
This is a first-of-its-kind initiative initiated by Transportation Minister Miri Regev, with the aim of providing a real-time response to the phenomenon of violence on public transportation and ensuring the safety of drivers and passengers.
The new unit will operate as a rapid response and operational force in the field, with a zero-tolerance approach to violence.
The unit, which began operating today, will include teams mounted on motorcycles, a 24-hour command and control center, and this in full coordination with the Israel Police. The unit's goal is to ensure rapid physical arrival at incident scenes, strengthen deterrence, immediately handle violent incidents, and increase the sense of security of drivers and passengers.
The move comes amid a worrying increase in incidents of violence against bus drivers, inspectors and field workers. The Ministry of Transport and Road Safety has understood that handling the situation after the fact is not enough, and that an operational, present and rapid response is required on the ground itself, and it is now being implemented in practice.
The security unit operates as a dedicated and operational unit, with a short response time and physical arrival at the scene of the incident within a few minutes.
Photo: Corina Rusin
The unit's activities combine a visible presence, deterrence, immediate treatment, and a real strengthening of the sense of security, for both drivers and passengers.
Alongside the operational force, the ministry also operates complementary tools, including advanced technological means, a personal security application for drivers, and systematic analysis of data for the purpose of drawing lessons and constantly improving the response in the field.
The unit is operated by the Reshef Security Company, which won a tender from the Ministry of Transportation.
Retired Superintendent Doron Turgeman was entrusted with establishing the unit.
In the first phase, the unit will operate in seven cities selected based on an analysis of events and field data: Jerusalem, Haifa, Be'er Sheva, Beit Shemesh, Modi'in Illit, Beitar Illit and Rahat.
The Ministry of Transportation emphasizes that after lessons are learned from the first phase, expanding the unit's activities to additional cities will be considered, as part of an ongoing process to change norms, increase deterrence, and protect public transportation.
Photo: Corina Rusin
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