Interior minister reports wire-tapping down

Interior Minister Ivan Langer said on Monday he had succeeded in bringing down the number of police wire-tapping by 30 percent in 2007 as compared to the previous year. He said this was the result of strict supervision and a new work methodology. As an opposition politician Mr. Langer frequently criticized what he called an excessive use of wire-tapping under the Social Democrat government and promised to amend the situation when he took office. The situation was worst in 2004 when the police registered over 10,000 cases. In 2006 they were down to 7,600 and last year they dropped to 5, 548.