British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 591

CHAPTER XV.

dispositions were abolished and a force of temporary additional police and special constables, organized into companies, groups and settlement units, was introduced. In December, 1938 there was employed on the defence of Jewish settlements a force of 1,279 temporary additional police and 7 ,560 special constables organized as described above. Each of the companies was placed under the command of a. British Inspector of Police. Police officers were appointed to supervise the work and training and a police headquarters officer was appointed to administer and control the whole of the Jewish Settlement Police. 'The number of firearms available for the Jewish Settlement Police was increased to 4,346 rifles, 48 Lewis guns, 40 Grenade guns and 377 Greener guns; later, the number of rifles was further increased to 4,746. Of the establishment of 1,279 temporary additional police, 470 were formed into a group mobile reserve whose duties included the patrolling of all Jewish lands within the group areas. Twenty armoured trucks and 31 pick-ups were provided for the use of the group mobile reserve by the Jewish Agency. Maintenance, repairs and the supply of fuel were provided by Government.

20. On the 15th April, 1940, the establishment of 1,279 temporary additional police was reduced, for reasons of economy, by 206 to 1,073. The establishment of special constables at this period was 13,650. Later in the year, however, the number of temporary additional police was increased to a total of 1,263. In December, 1940, it was agreed that the Jewish settlement temporary additional police should provide 190 recruits for an army unit, by a corresponding reduction in establishment, and as a result the establishment again reverted to 1,073 temporary additional police. 200 rifles were withdrawn from the Jewish settlement temporary additional police and transferred with the recruits to the Palestine Buffs.

21. In June, 1941, when it appeared that there might be enemy action within the Middle East, the establishment of Jewish settlement police was expanded by 1,790 men to provide for the "elf defence of Jewish colonies within the general scheme of defence for Palestine. This brought the establishment up to 2,863 temporary additional police. The total number of special constables was at the same time increased to 15 ,818. Special provision was made for the training of this force.

22. In March, 1945, with the war in Europe entering its closing stages and the threat of any external attack on Palestine diminished, it appeared that the internal security situation no longer justified the maintenance of the war establishment of the Jewish Settlement Police. After review, a new establishment of 1,650

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