The government of Russia in the Duma introduced a bill that would expand the powers of police officers. In particular, the document supplemented by a list of circumstances in which law enforcement officers will have the right to open the vehicle, to enter premises, conduct inspections of citizens and use of weapons. In the explanatory note to the bill States that its goal is to reinforce “safeguards to protect the rights and legitimate interests of citizens”.
The government of the Russian Federation submitted to the State Duma amendments to the law “On police” expanding the authority of employees of the structure of the Ministry. The corresponding document was published on Wednesday in the electronic database of the state Duma.
As stated in the explanatory Memorandum to the bill, it is aimed at “strengthening the safeguards to protect the rights and legitimate interests of citizens, improving the practical activities of police officers for the prevention, suppression and disclosure of crimes and other offences”.
Among other things, has been supplemented by a list of circumstances in which the police have the right to inspect the incident scene, vehicles and documents to carry out the inspection of the citizens, to enter the residential premises and land plots, as well as to open automobiles and other vehicles.
In particular, in the case of the bill police will have the right to open the vehicle if it is necessary to ensure the security of citizens, including the riots and in emergency situations. Also, police will be able to use this right to save the life of citizens, to prevent crime or detention of an alleged offender for the inspection of goods if there is reason to believe that in a vehicle there are things withdrawn from civil turnover, to check reports of the attack and in some cases.
In addition, the police will be able to exercise this right for the “application of measures of maintenance of manufacture on business about an administrative offence, if there is reason to believe that the offender is in a state of intoxication”.
It is important to note that before opening the car, a policeman must introduce himself and explain the reasons and basis for the autopsy, except when the “delay endangers the life and health of a police officer or other citizens,” or if penetration into the vehicle you need for “immediate restraint of a crime or administrative offense, or the prosecution of their perpetrators”.
If the owner wasn’t there at the time of opening of the vehicle, the law enforcement officers are required to notify him during the day, as well as to prevent unauthorized access to the vehicle.
It is noted that the police officer is not liable for the damage and��standard at the opening of the vehicle when the autopsy was conducted on the grounds specified in the legislation.
In addition, the bill gives the police the right to cordon off areas, living quarters and other buildings. Within the boundaries of the cordon the police will be able to carry out personal inspection of citizens, belongings inspection of vehicles and transported goods.
“In case of refusal of a citizen to undergo personal inspection or to provide for the inspection vehicle and the goods carried, the police has the right not to allow the passage of such a citizen on the territory, in premises, buildings and other objects, where is the perimeter, or outside the boundaries of the cordon”, — stated in the law.
In addition, expands the list of circumstances in which a police officer may use firearms. A police officer can shoot when you try detainees not only to touch his firearms (as in current law), but “to perform other actions that give reason to regard them as the threat of an attack on a police officer”.
Article 13 of the law is proposed to add a requirement that police officers have the right “to inspect the scene, location, premises, vehicles, objects, documents and other objects in connection with the review registered in the established order of statements and messages on incidents”. At the moment, the law gives law enforcement the right to inspect only in some special cases.
The authors of the project proposed to release the police from liability for offenses committed in the line of duty actions if they were performed in accordance with the law. “A police officer cannot be prosecuted for actions committed while fulfilling the duties entrusted to the police, and in connection with the exercise of the rights granted to the police, if these actions were done pursuant to and in accordance with the procedure established by Federal constitutional laws, this Federal law, other Federal laws and other normative legal acts constituting the legal basis of police activities”, — the document says.
It is also proposed to allow the police to introduce themselves to the detainee after the termination of his threat, endangering the life and property of illegal actions.
“During the discussion of the amendments, of course, a priority for the Committee is to ensure the security of citizens, society and state. The bill will be considered in accordance with the rules of order”, — quotes words of the Chairman of the Committee on security and combating corruption Vasily Piskareva the website of the state Duma.
Last Friday it became known about the Russian government approved the draft law “On amendments to the Federal law “On police”. The decision was published on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers. On 22 April it was reported that the government has drafted amendments to the law expand the rights of police officers.
