Czech lawmakers support undercover police for anti-corruption drive

Czech lawmakers Wednesday backed increased use of undercover police to combat the country’s problem with corruption. Lower house lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the first-reading of a bill which would allow undercover operations in a much wider range of cases, provided the courts give their approval to the police intervention. Until now, Czech police have only been cleared to operate in the most serious corruption cases covered by international conventions. The government insists that the new proposals will not mean the creation of ‘agents provocateurs’ – or those who incite suspects to commit illegal acts – whose use is permitted in neighbouring Slovakia in corruption investigations. Anti-corruption organization Transparency International last year put the Czech Republic in 41st place on its corruption index, ranking worse Botswana and the United Arab Emirates, but improving on its joint 46th position in 2006.