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New police search powers in Spain

01 January 1991

New police search powers in Spain
artdoc February=1992

A new police law, the `Law on the security of citizens', which
will allow police officers to search a house or premises without
a search warrant and to take into custody all individuals who are
not carrying an identity card is being discussed in Spain. The
Spanish leading newspaper El Pais called it `the greatest scandal
in contemporary parliamentary history'. The bill was considered
in the Senate in January 1992 and will subsequently become law.
Minister Corcuera from the governing Socialist Party, who is
responsible for the bill, stated that only intellectuals who have
no knowledge of how the average population feels, would engage
in juridical hairsplitting such as the relation between the law
and the constitution, matters which according to the minister
were mere folklore to most people. Spain has known numerous
incidents lately in which citizens turned against suspected drugs
dealers. Vigilante groups have prevented gipsy families suspected
of drug dealing from moving into homes that were built especially
for them. The government claims harsh measures are needed to
prevent the extreme right from capitalizing on the fear for
crime.

Statewatch, Volume 2 no 1, January/February 1992