MOSCOW, April 11 (RAPSI) – A bill expanding powers of police officers has been submitted to the State Duma, the database of the lower house of parliament reads on Tuesday.

According to the bill, police officers will be able to use firearms to prevent terror attacks, liberate hostages, repeal attacks at critically important and potentially dangerous objects as well as administrative government buildings if such use does not present a danger to life and health of persons not involved in the criminal activity.

The bill establishes that if police officers apply measures limiting rights and freedoms of a citizen, they must explain reasons and grounds for application of such measures, as well as rights and duties of the citizen. Police officers are to notify relatives or close acquaintances about help measures taken for a person. List of people eligible for call after arrest is also expanded.

The police will take additional duty to search for persons who have lost contact with relatives, the bill reads. Police officers are to provide information not only about the presence or absence of a criminal record but also about criminal prosecution or termination of criminal prosecution or that a person is on a wanted list.

Police officers are to get a right allowing them to infiltrate places of residence to arrest people who have left a crime scene, the bill reads. Police are to notify not only prosecutor but a court about each instance of such infiltration. If a person is trapped in a vehicle and is in danger or if a newborn is trapped in a vehicle, police receive a right to break in. Police also receive a right to break in vehicles with criminals inside.