Fundamental change in privacy rights balance would allow police searches, in some places, even without concrete suspicion.
By YONAH BOBAttorney-General Yehuda Weinstein 370(photo credit: Artiom Degel)
Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein on Thursday tried to push forward a new initiative which would radically increase police power to search people both above and under their clothing to cases even without any concrete suspicion.Weinstein publicized his support for the proposed bill in a letter to Yisrael Beytenu MK and Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee chair David Rotem.Under the current law, which is similar in many democracies, police generally can only search people if they have at least a reasonable suspicion that the person is committing or will be committing a crime.The proposed law could fundamentally alter the balance of police power visa vise citizens privacy rights.The bill was first proposed on May 23, 2011. But it has recently gathered steam in the aftermath of a series of disturbing and public crimes which have riled the public.The attorney-general noted that he and Police Chief Insp. Gen. Yohanan Danino see "eye to eye" on this issue and believe that the new bill would invaluably increase police effectiveness in preventing crime.Weinstein also noted that the departure from the current law would be limited by the fact that the new police search powers would only apply in specific designated public areas, such as stadiums, restaurants, discos and institutes.The letter also mentioned that Interior Minister Eli Yishai sent a letter in support of the bill on May 13, 2012.
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