Parliamentary committee set to limit police wiretapping
Committee tasked with probing existing wiretapping procedures to file recommendations within weeks, says amendments to existing procedures will make court-sanctions wiretapping orders herder to obtain
The recent investigation into the possible illegal wiretapping of Vice Premier Haim Ramon by the police may result in a drastic legislation change, which would make it harder for the police to obtain wiretapping permits for their investigations.
MK Menahem Ben-Sasson (Kadima), who head the parliamentary committee tasked with investigating existing wiretapping authorization procedures, announced Tuesday that the committee will be filing its initial recommendations within a few weeks.
The initial report, he added, will focus on the procedure preceding a court order authorizing a wiretap.
Among the issued discussed by the committee were suggestions which would obligate the police to document all proceedings prior to the filing of a wiretap motion. These records would have to list the names of the suspects whose phone the police wish to tap.
Ben-Sasson also proposes placing a geographic restriction on the motions: "Nowadays, police investigators can apply for a wiretap order in any of the district courts, which means they can choose to file it with whatever court they think would grant it."
According to the amendment, the investigating unit would be able to apply for a wiretap order only with its respective regional court.
The committee is also expected to recommend only the chief justices of each District Court preside over wiretap hearings: "This amendment has double meaning," explained Ben-Sasson. "It would stop the police from choosing the identity of the judge presiding over the hearing, while allowing the motion to be heard by a seasoned judge."
Should the police want to extend or prolong the wiretap order, suggested Ben-Sasson, they should take it up with the same judge who signed the original order, after presenting the bench with a report entailing its efficiency.
"I hope our recommendations mature into actual legislation," he told Ynet. "These changes are the result of prolonged research of a phenomenon that everyone should be worried about.
"Nevertheless, we have to remember that, while wiretapping should be subject to the proper restrictions, it is – in many cases – imperative to effectively fight crime."
