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December 22, 2005
Belgium: Parliament Approves Greater Police Anti-Terror Powers
In yesterday's Expatica, it was reported that the MPs in the government of Belgium have decided to increase powers given to the police to combat terrorism and organised crime.
The controversial measures include the ability to perform house raids at night, with raids carried out without a court warrant should the building be a private residence.
Police will be allowed to "assist" criminals whom they are investigating, which would allow them to commit minor crimes if they thus garner information on greater crimes.
The law will allow for faster freezes of suspicious bank accounts, and a greater range of powers for bugging and surveillance. There will still be a need to request from the public prosecutor the permission to "photograph or bug suspects, raid offices and garages and shadow escaped prisoners" but there would no longer be a need for a court order to conduct these activities.
The law, an amendment of a previous law, was passed by the members of parliament on Tuesday morning, but still needs to be voted into law by the Senate.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at December 22, 2005 5:48 PM
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