Press Advisories

19. 5. 200714:56

The Government To Discuss Changes in Police Tenders

While purchasing military or security materials, the Czech Police may now be able to address eventual suppliers directly without the need to declare a public selection procedure.

This ensues from a draft amendment to the country’s Public Tenders Act that will be submitted to the House of Deputies by MP Jan Klas (ODS) and that will be discussed by the Government this coming Wednesday. Klas today told ÈTK that the Czech Army already avails itself of this opportunity and that the draft amendment plans to extend this facility to cover the Czech Police as well. Klas added that the Ministry of the Interior is more or less opposed to this proposal. As a result, Klas is not sure how the new law will really fare.

The amendment is designed to tighten up the rules for public tenders, primarily in case of additional supplies of materials, when equipment and materials being bought have to be compatible with the previous deliveries. As a result, the Police could proceed in this way and declare what are called negotiating procedures without publishing them in cases when a change of supplier would result in the goods to be purchased having different technical parameters incompatible with the original delivery.

In his explanatory report, Klas points out that trading in military materials and their imports have always been connected with protracted licensing procedures, which are also governed by the legislation of the exporting country. However, the domestic rules make it imperative for the Police to abide by the principle of uniform equipment which, in his opinion, is a factor not taken into consideration in the individual provisions of the law.

The Government will also review another legislative amendment with which Klas wants to improve conditions for Police work, namely its field work. According to his proposal, even rank-and-file police officers should have the possibility to use target-illuminating firearms during police operations. Until now this particular type of weapons has been used only by special units, such as the Rapid Deployment Unit (UNRA). In Klas´s opinion, such restrictions disadvantage police officers clashing with dangerous criminals or terrorists. In his view, Interior Minister Ivan Langer also agrees with the proposed legislative change.

klh čtk