Romanian President Passes Amended Police Statute Law

The new statute will enter force on January 1, 2012. It says officers who are laid off when a department is reorganized or downscaled must undergo professional reconversion within six months of that decision.

The statute also says the officers’ activity and conduct will be evaluated yearly and graded. The evaluation methodology, as well as the procedure and conditions under which an officer’s employment may be amended or suspended, shall be set through an order of the minister of Interior.

The changes to the statute, adopted on May 31 by the Chamber of Deputies, were challenged before the Constitutional Court by 111 social democrat and liberal deputies. Social democrat MP Mircea Dusa said the amendments allow the prime minister to take any measure regarding the Interior Ministry. He also pointed out that police officers are public servants with special status, while under the new regulations they can be sacked through a minister order, which, he added, is unconstitutional.

Last week, the Constitutional Court rejected the contestation.