The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday lashed out at the National Police Agency (NPA) over a draft regulation of police duties that suggests the possibility police will be armed while carrying out "home visits."
"The legislature amended the household inspection regulations in the Statute Governing Duties of the Police (警察勤務條例) in a bid to lessen the burden of the police and to avoid violations of human rights," KMT caucus whip Kuo Su-chun (郭素春) told a press conference.
"However, the NPA is going to resume household inspections soon, although they are now called `home visits,'" she said. "A police officer can visit a family when he is on duty and armed."
Kuo was referring to the NPA's draft regulation on "home visits" publicized late last month. The draft was proposed after the legislature abolished the previous 60-year-old household inspection system on June 5.
In the past, the inspection system was often used as an excuse for the police to enter people's homes and collect information about ordinary people, Vice Minister of the Interior Chien Tai-lang (
The June amendment stipulated that the police should carry out visits as a measure to "prevent crime, serve the people and conduct public security investigations."
The draft regulation of the "home visit" measure states that the police should make visits during the day and when they are on duty, but they should first seek permission from the homeowner.
The draft, however, does not specify the meaning of "on duty," which prompted the caucus to question whether the police may visit a household when they are on patrol, during which time the police carry guns.
Kuo further questioned whether the new measure was meant as a way to collect information on a family's political affiliation ahead of the upcoming elections.
The draft regulation stipulates that the police may record the resident's name, address, occupation, ID number, contact information and "other necessary items needed for the police to execute official business."
An NPA official yesterday denied the KMT legislative caucus' claims.
"Police officers will not be allowed to carry guns during the visits," Chann Wen-chuan (張文川), deputy chief of NPA's household registration division, told the Taipei Times during a telephone interview.
Chang explained that crime prevention and public security survey will be the main purposes of the visits.
"For example, if there's an increase in a certain type of crime in a precinct, police officers may visit homes to inform residents and tell them about crime prevention measures," Chang said. "Police officers may also ask residents to fill out a survey so they [police officers] know how they can improve."
"Police officers will not be allowed to carry guns -- guns will simply not be issued to them when they perform these duties," Chang said.
Chang added that police officers may only visit private homes if the residents agree.
When asked whether collecting residents' contact information would be an invasion of privacy, Chang said that police officers may only collect information if a resident agrees. Chang added that the purpose is to know exactly where a person lives and how he or she may be contacted during an emergency.
Chang also denied a China Times report that said police officers have already carried guns into homes during the trial visit period.
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