site.btaParliament Adopts National Service for Protection Act

Parliament Adopts National Service for  Protection Act

Sofia, July 30 (BTA) - Parliament adopted on second reading the
National Service for Protection Act late Wednesday.

Parliament  decided that the NSP chief will be appointed by a
presidential decree, in concordance with Cabinet, for a period
of five years. The MPs also decided that the NSP's main
structural units and total number of employees will be proposed
by the Service's chief and endorsed by the President.

NSP officers can use physical force, auxiliary means, special
techniques and methods only when absolutely necessary. Such
cases are defined as - when a protected person or NSP officer is
 attacked, during, on the occasion of or in connection to
carrying out their functions under this law; when resisting or
disobeying a lawful order; during the apprehension of a person
who is a security threat and who does not obey orders or resists
 an NSP officer, while the latter is carrying out their
functions under his law.

The use of physical force, auxiliary means, special techniques
and methods is forbidden against persons who are obviously
underage or pregnant women, the MPs decided. They explained that
 this ban is not applicable in cases of mass riots against a
protected person, when all other options have been exhausted.
 
NSP officers use weapons only during an armed attack or threat,
aimed at protected persons or sites; to prevent kidnapping or
the unlawful deprivation of liberty of a protected person;
during countering terrorism or other generally dangerous acts
which may have serious consequences; when a person is resisting
arrest after being warned; for immobilizing a vehicle when the
driver poses a direct threat for the security of the protected
persons or sites or the life and health of people.

Parliament decided that NSP officers will be reimbursed the
costs for travelling to and from their annual paid vacation
destinations within Bulgaria.