Parliament passes anti-terror package

Police, prosecutor's offices, courts and intelligence services will receive new powers in the fight against terrorism as of January. This comes after the Parliament passed an amendment to the Criminal Code and other pieces of legislation on Wednesday. The so-called anti-terror package was drawn up in response to the series of attacks in Paris on November 13. Under these legislative changes, jail sentences for those convicted of conspiracy to commit a terrorist act will be extended, as the criminal offence will be included in the category of 'particularly serious crimes'. Most of the changes were introduced into the Code of Criminal Procedure. Parliament gave courts the authority to remand in custody a person charged with a criminal offence linked to terrorism - without formally stipulating the reason for doing so. Those suspected of terrorism may in justified cases be placed in custody for as many as five years. Cases involving terrorism will be tried by the Specialised Criminal Court. Among other changes, measures aimed at providing extra protection to witnesses were also introduced and the powers of the Police Corps, the Slovak Intelligence Service and the Military Intelligence Service are being extended as well.