site.btaProsecutor General Challenges Constitutionality of New Private Security Business Act

Sofia, March 12 (BTA) - Bulgaria's Prosecutor General Sotir Tsatsarov has approached the Constitutional Court with a petition to declare uconstitutional certain provisions of the new Private Security Business Act, gazetted on January 30, 2018, as contrary to the principles of the legal State, the prosecution service said in a press release on Monday.

The provisions deal with urbanized area security as a new type of security business, regulating the essence and manner of implementation, the conclusion of security contracts and the detailing of teams for the provision of such security.

Tsatsarov argues that protection of public order, which includes protection against criminal trespasses to citizens and their property, is a responsibility that the Constitution and the laws assign to the Council of Ministers and the Interior Ministry.

"Along with that, the law inadmissibly affects (transfers) powers of the State, exercised by the Council of Ministers and more specifically by the Ministry of Interior, to protect public order and national security, and such powers are assigned to merchants," the reasoning to the petition read.

The challenged provisions enable private security firms to have an unlimited impact on life in settlements, regardless of whether this concerns actions affecting personal life and property, the exercise of political rights, economic activities or others, the petition argues further on.