Turkish police officers violating privacy of information to be dismissed

ANKARA

Police officers who share private information and documents gathered on duty with third parties online or via press will be dismissed, according to a new amendment for police departments in Turkey. 

Violating the privacy of communication by recording, disclosing and sharing with third parties any information or documents gathered by wiretapping while on duty, would be grounds to dismiss police officers, the amendment states. 

It also says any police officers who “dishonor the Turkish state, nation, government of the Republic of Turkey, parliament, judiciary, military, national police and security institutions” will be dismissed.

Police officers who keep private information and documents, as well as documents extracted by police wiretapping, which must be exterminated within a legally defined period, will also be dismissed.

It also says that regardless of their rank, police officers involved in evidence obstruction and alteration will also be dismissed. 

This new amendment went into effect after being published in Turkey’s Official Gazette on July 8.