Prime Minister Xavier Bettel announced that security measures will be adapted

On 26 November 2015, the Prime Minister and Minister of State Xavier Bettel gave a presentation to the joint meeting of the Legal Commission and Commission for Law Enforcement of the Parliament (Chambre des députés) on the subject of adapting security measures.

Following the meeting, the Prime Minister, Félix Braz, the Minister of Justice and Francine Closener, the Secretary of State of Internal Security, presented the adaptations to the security measures to the press.

In order to guarantee a maximum level of security for all citizens, the government decided to adapt the security measures in place.

Among the measures announced by Xavier Bettel, some will be permanent whereas some will only be implemented when the VIGILNAT alert plan reaches level 3.

Among the permanent measures, it has also been proposed that the Parliament enables searches to be carried out at any time when they pertain to crimes related to terrorism or organised crime. Currently, they are limited to the hours between 6:30 am and 8 pm.

The government also proposes that the detention period for in flagrante delicto be extended from 24 hours to a maximum of 48 hours.

Furthermore, in relation to access to computer systems, it has been proposed that a technical plan be put in place with a view to accessing computer data and enabling investigators to enter private property to install a technical device or install it remotely over the internet.

The same applies for the installation of technical devices for audio surveillance and image capture, the use of which would however be subject to a court order with authorisation from the president of the council chamber of the Court of Appeal.

It has also been proposed that officers from the judicial police be allowed to participate in electronic exchanges using a pseudonym with a view to getting into contact with offenders.

In addition, the government proposes to the Parliament to allow the authorities direct access to the customer files of telephone operators via a database hosted by the Luxembourg Institute of Regulation (ILR) so that phone calls can be traced quickly.

The temporary measures proposed, which are applicable only when the VIGILNAT alert level reaches level 3, include the possibility of carrying out identity checks in public places and searches of both people and vehicles.

The government has also decided to raise awareness of the programmes for preventing radicalisation in schools and prisons.

The services provided by the '113' number will be extended so that citizens can use the number to report any kind of radicalisation among their friends and family and any terrorist threats.

Finally, law enforcement services will now make use of the legal option of banning the entry into national territory of all persons who proclaim theories that are contrary to public order or who incite hate.

In conclusion, the Prime Minister proclaimed himself confident that all these proposals will be quickly passed by the different authorities to enter into force by the end of the year.