'City Without Violence' program shows significant early results

If the program is determined to be successful it will be implented nationwide.

By REBECCA ANNA STOIL
During a special meeting of the Ministerial Committee for Combating Violence on Monday, Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter announced success in the ministry's groundbreaking program "City Without Violence." Dichter reported that the program had led to between a 40 percent to 60 percent reduction in violence in the participating towns. The project, which has already been allotted a NIS 50 million budget, operates within the framework of local and regional authorities in order to establish non-violent norms of behavior. Dichter's office said that crime had been significantly reduced in all 10 cities - Tiberias, Nazareth-Ilit, Acre, Hadera, Netanya, Rahat, Ma'aleh Adumim, Ashkelon, Ramle and Bat-Yam - that began the program this year, as well as in Eilat, where the pilot program began three years ago. In the 10 cities, the project has been working in full swing since January and focuses on cooperation among the police, local government, education authorities, welfare authorities and other government representatives. If, after two years, the program is determined to be successful in the 10 cities, then it will be implemented in the rest of the regional authorities nationwide.