Police officers given greater personal discretion over use of firearms

<!SECTION SISID: 4 SWORD: 145 SPAGE: 1 SBODY: SECTION> <!SPEC_NWPAMSECT4> Under the police law amended by the Sejm on Friday a policeman now has the r ight to shoot a suspect if they deem it necessary, but at the same time ensu re "the least possible harm" to bystanders. "The decision to shoot takes a m atter of seconds. At that moment the policeman is not able to analyze all th e consequences of firing," police spokesman Pawel Biedziak told PAP. The gov ernment initiated the amendment after a shooting near Nadarzyn in which an o fficer was killed. At the same time the government intends to amend the crim inal code, recommending a life sentence for the killing of a policeman witho ut the possibility of parole, or a minimum 25 year imprisonment. The proposa l did not win the support of the Sejm's commission. (Gazeta Wyborcza, May 2 5-26, p. 6) A.Z.