Slovakia Party Calls for Introduction of Body Cameras in Police

Bratislava, November 13 (TASR) - The opposition Slovakia party on Wednesday called on Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) to continue his efforts to ensure that police actions are recorded by cameras attached to police officers' bodies. The party did so in connection with a case in which a Kosice police officer has been accused of manslaughter. "I am appalled by the police action that killed a man. This case must be appropriately investigated, and the perpetrator must be properly punished," said Slovakia party MP Peter Pollak, who is vice-chair of the House human rights and national minorities committee. According to Pollak, the entire Police Corps is being criticised for the absence of body cameras in relation to the actions of individuals. In this vein, the MP lambasted the minister for his lack of action in this area. Pollak noted that body cameras are commonly used during police interventions in other countries. An investigator of the Interior Ministry's Inspectorate (UIS) on Tuesday pressed charges of manslaughter against a Kosice police officer. According to the Inspectorate, the officer in question, while on duty in early November, inflicted multiple injuries to the head and body of an individual detained while perpetrating a crime, with the detainee succumbing to the injuries in hospital the following day. If found guilty, the officer might be sentenced to 12-15 years in prison. The House defence and security committee is expected to discuss the incident on Thursday. zel/df