Police Ordinance Amendment (No. 39) Bill

What does the bill do?

The amendment to the Police Ordinance is intended to regulate the use of camera systems with analysis and processing capabilities for the unique identification of objects in order to help law enforcement agencies and security bodies perform their duties effectively, and it should be clarified that the amendment does not refer to camera systems with the capability of biometric identification of people. The information can be used in two modes – through a real-time alert, which will help locate the object in real time, or through a retrospective search of material that was filmed by the camera systems and stored. It should be noted that at the time the law was enacted, the only system the police have is one that identifies vehicle license plates, but the law creates a legal framework that will allow its application also to the identification of other objects, to the extent such technology exists. The cameras will be placed in accordance with the purposes listed in the law, including the prevention, thwarting or detection of felony offenses or of offenses that may endanger the safety or security of a person, public safety or state security, as well as identifying those involved in planning and carrying out these offenses. In addition, it will be possible to place the cameras in order to prevent serious harm to the security of life or property, to locate missing persons or people whose safety is of concern, and to enforce bans on entry to public places. Once the cameras have been activated, it will be possible to use the material filmed by them also for additional purposes set in the law, including saving or protecting human life, detecting felony offenses or misdemeanor offenses defined in the law and criminal proceedings concerning them, and forfeiture of property according to law. Under the law, restrictions are imposed on placing the cameras in the public space and on using camera systems that film a person in a private domain, all while setting oversight mechanisms for these. In addition, the manner of using material filmed by the systems is regulated, with restrictions set in this regard, including on the period for which the information stored in the systems will be kept and a criminal sanction in the event of a breach of the provisions. Beyond that, the law allows information from the camera systems to be passed on also to other bodies in the fields of law enforcement and security, listed in the law, and under the conditions set in it.