After the meeting of the Committee, which discussed various issues, Ms. Tsiridou said that a proposal from the Ministry of Justice is also expected to be considered in the coming weeks, following legislative proposals, in relation to electronic monitoring of defendants, "the so-called bracelet," she said.
It is an important issue, she said, referring to the overcrowding in prisons. Tsiridou said there are provisions in the law for electronic monitoring of convicted persons, but not of defendants, people who have not been convicted. The aim is to make it possible, while criminal proceedings are pending, for someone to be able to wait with a bracelet, even under house arrest. "The ministry is currently studying how to have a secure legal framework for this option," she said."
Tsiridou also said the issue is part of the discussion on the Prisons Act, which they discussed on Wednesday. The goal, she said, is for the triptych of modernization-reform-reintegration "to be our strategy."
Prisons are places of correction and correct consciences, she said, "so as a legal committee we are spreading a net of cohesion among all walks of life." The purpose of the bill is to comprehensively replace the existing legislation to bring it in line with modern concepts of serving sentences and international principles on the treatment of prisoners, he added.
He said that the recommendations of a five-member independent committee of experts set up following a decision by the Council of Ministers had been taken into account and were being discussed in the article and in this context the committee was expected to come back within the next few weeks and the recommendation of the Ministry of Justice was also expected to be considered The Minister of Justice will be present at the meeting to present and discuss the final Justice Reform Bills, she added.
The Committee, according to Tsiridou, also discussed the International Cooperation in Criminal Matters (Amendment) Bill, a bill, she said, which aims to add a new paragraph on cooperation also with the UK after its withdrawal from the EU. "These are security issues for the country, and all EU member states are making similar arrangements," he added.
He said they were also considering provisions in the Combating Fraud and Counterfeiting of Means of Payment other than Cash, a bill harmonising the Republic of Cyprus with European Directive provisions.[BR]He said that the Digital Security Authority has a duty to provide the Police with information received from operators of basic services and digital service providers in Cyprus. With the proposed bill, there is a desire to include critical information infrastructure operators and providers of electronic communications service networks, he said. This is because the Commission members were concerned that it might violate privacy, telephone communications, constitutionally guaranteed rights, the questions and thoughts of the Commission members have been raised and the Authority will come back with a note so as to allay the fears expressed in the Commission, he added.
With regard to the Commercial Court and Maritime Courts Act, he said they are proceeding with consultations on amendments with the aim in the next few weeks to proceed with its passage in the House of Assembly.
Source: CNA
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