Photo – Lehtikuva.
Parliamentary Ombudsman Jussi Pajuoja on Tuesday issued an order that police should not use dogs for searching illegal drugs in public places.
The ombudsman issued the ruling to Oulu police after it had conducted inspections in public place with the help of dogs to identify the criminals.
Pajuoja observed that fundamental human rights should be taken into account while conducting such drives.
“The law has provision on the procedures of coercive search of persons,” said Pajuoja, adding that the police had no legal rights to conduct searches without suspicion of crime.
According to Pajuoja, dogs had strong smelling power that sometimes could lead to false alarm.
The parliamentary ombudsman shed light on the matter after he had received several complaints in this connection.
The National Board of Police has been asked to report by the end of June on what steps it has taken regarding the matter.
