Effectiveness of the new Act on the Processing of Personal Data by the Police to be assessed

The new Act on the Processing of Personal Data by the Police entered into force on 1 June 2019. The Ministry of the Interior has sent a request for opinions to the police and police stakeholders on the effectiveness of the Act and its implementation. The Government must submit a report on the implementation of the Act to the Administration Committee of Parliament by the end of this year.

The new Act on the Processing of Personal Data by the Police was adopted by Parliament on 18 March 2019 and it entered into force on 1 June 2019. Parliament requires that the Government monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Act and submit a detailed report to the Administration Committee by the end of 2021.

The Ministry of the Interior is currently carrying out a project that monitors and evaluates how the Act is implemented in the National Police Board and its subordinate administration. Today on Thursday 22 April, the Ministry of the Interior sent a request for opinions to the police and police stakeholders on the implementation of the Act and its effectiveness. 

The respondents are requested to pay particular attention to the effectiveness of regulation, protection of personal data, and whether the legislative amendment has had an impact on the operating conditions of the police and other authorities or on the supervision of personal data processing. 

Changes in operating environment required amendments to legislation

An important objective of the legislative reform has been to ensure that the police are able to react to changes in the security environment on the basis of correct information that is as real-time as possible. Other objectives have been to secure the flow of information necessary for the activities of the authorities and to clarify and simplify complex legislation.

“The new Act on the Processing of Personal Data by the Police aims to take into account the changes in the police operating environment and the resulting needs, in particular with regard to the processing of personal data to prevent crime,” says Katriina Laitinen, Acting Director General from the Police Department of the Ministry of the Interior.

The report to be presented to the Administration Committee is scheduled to be submitted to Parliament by the end of the year

Inquiries:
Katriina Laitinen, Acting Director General of the Police Department, tel. +358 295 488 559, [email protected]