Sejm approves draft amendment granting more powers for the police

The Sejm yesterday approved an amendment to the Police Act, granting law officers the power to conduct entrapment operations and to film and eavesdrop on suspects without first having to receive consent from the prosecutor's office. Speaking against the amendment, Zbigniew Eysmont from the Conservative Left Alliance (SKL) said, "We are returning to the full control of Polish citizens. Moreover the regulations don't say anything about securing data, so recordings could later be used in blackmail." The Sejm also decided that the police will not be allowed to compile information about an individual's political or sexual preferences, their religious beliefs or addictions. Deputies also introduced new restrictions on the granting of detective licenses. (Zycie, p.1) A.Z.