Lawmakers might have to pay for bodyguard service

A Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator yesterday questioned the value of bodyguard services provided to lawmakers.

During a regular legislative meeting DPP Legislator Chang Ching-fang (張清芳) asked National Police Agency Director-General Shieh Ing-dan (謝銀黨) whether the agency wasted too much money and manpower assigning police officers to serve as bodyguards for lawmakers.

"It is my understanding that the agency says yes almost every time lawmakers file applications for bodyguards," Chang said. "I am wondering what [the police's] standard is."

Shieh said that 28 lawmakers applied for bodyguards, but that the agency had only approved 24 applications.

"Not everybody is qualified for this," Shieh said.

Shieh was not willing to say which lawmakers had been approved for protection or how many officers had been assigned.

Chang wants to amend the law that grants state-funded protection to lawmakers.