New Polish police law scrutinized by Venice Commission

The Venice Commission, the advisory body of the Council of Europe, on Friday completed a two-day visit to Poland aimed at checking on Poland's new law concerning police and surveillance.

In their second visit to the country this year, the commission worked to analyze if the recent legislation was in accordance with conventions signed by member countries of the Council of Europe.

The three members of the commission met representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Interior, Prosecutor's Office and several officials.

"We have told the Commission that facing the threat of terrorist attacks, and countering terrorist activity online, the most important task for us, the government and the parliament, is to guarantee security for Poles," Stanislaw Karczewski, marshall of the senate, said after the meeting.

He added Poland looked forward to examining the commission's opinion once it is published.

Amendments passed in Poland's lower parliament on Jan. 15 granted police greater surveillance powers, such as access to people's phone and internet data, including standard mail and many others.

Police also got extended rights to record video and audio in buildings and on public transport. They do not have to inform those investigated or ask courts for authorization. The so-called Police Bill was signed by President Andrzej Duda in early February.

The commission is preparing an opinion on the police bill at the request of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The opinion is expected to be adopted during the next plenary session of the commission on June 10 and 11.

In an earlier visit by the Venice Commission to Poland this year, they warned that the rule of law, democracy and human rights were in danger "as long as the Polish Constitutional Tribunal cannot carry out its work in an efficient manner." Endit