MEMBERS OF the public and special interest groups will have an opportunity to make submissions to the parliamentary committee looking at amendments to the Finger-prints Act.
This was agreed by the joint select committee, which held its first meeting yesterday.
Committee member, Derrick Smith, called for submissions from the public, given the legislation's "far-reaching implications for the rights of citizens".
His recommendation was accepted by National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, who chairs the committee. It was agreed that the committee would write to specific groups involved in law enforcement and human rights issues, as well as place notices in the newspapers, inviting submissions on the Bill.
Under the amendments to the legislation, the police will have the power to act, without a court order, to photograph and fingerprint suspects taken into custody in connection with major crimes such as drug trafficking. The amendments will also provide for increased penalties for breaches of the rules relating to the work of the Fingerprint Bureau, as well as breaches of the legislation.
