Kapo seeks restored access to enforcement register

The head of Estonia’s Security Police, Margo Palloson, has asked for access to the enforcement register and e-arrest service to be restored, ERR reported.

The Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs ordered access for the Security Police and the Police and Border Guard Board to be closed after the agencies failed to introduce a data-monitoring tool by October 1. In a letter to the Centre of Registers and Information Systems, Deputy Secretary General Mari-Liis Mikli asked for the services to be shut down immediately.

Palloson said the Enforcement Proceedings Code does not require security authorities to use the tool when carrying out duties under the Security Authorities Act or conducting security clearances under the State Secrets and Classified Information Act. He requested continued access for those purposes.

The Security Police wants to be able to query whether an account exists, its balance and transactions, who is authorised to use it, the account holder’s beneficial owner, and whether a safe-deposit box exists.

Palloson said the agency has made no queries through the register in criminal proceedings since October 1 and has technically disabled that type of query. He added that the agency had taken steps to ensure its data processing is lawful and is subject to adequate oversight.