Procedures According to which Terrorism Threat Levels Are Declared

Issued pursuant to Section 13,
Paragraph two of the National Security Law

1. These Regulations prescribe the procedures according to which terrorism threat levels are declared.

2. The Chief of the Security Police, on the basis of the results of terrorism threat analysis, shall inform by telephone the Minister for the Interior of the necessity to declare a terrorism threat level that corresponds to the contingency of a terrorism threat in the whole territory of the State, in the threatened region, sector of economic activity or object. The Security Police shall send the information to the Minister for the Interior in writing within an hour after the transfer of information by telephone.

3. On the basis of a recommendation of the Chief of the Security Police, the Minister for the Interior shall without delay take a decision on the declaring of the appropriate terrorism threat level. The decision shall be drawn up in writing within an hour after the receipt of the written information from the Security Police. The decision shall include the following:

3.1. a reference to the information provided by the Security Police;

3.2. the declared terrorism threat level; and

3.3. information on the introduction of anti-terrorism measures.

4. A decision on the declaring of a terrorism threat level shall come into force at the time it is signed, unless specified otherwise in the decision.

5. The Minister for the Interior shall without delay inform by telephone the Prime Minister of the declared terrorism threat level. The Minister for the Interior shall send the decision on the declaring of the appropriate terrorism threat level to the Prime Minister not later than within an hour after the transfer of information.

6. The responsible institutions shall notify the highest officials of State administrative institutions in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the regulatory enactments regarding the notification of the highest State officials, informing them of the declaring of a terrorism threat level.

7. The Security Police shall without delay:

7.1. inform the institutions involved in anti-terrorism activities and the officials responsible for national objects vital for national security; and

7.2. submit to the Ministry of the Interior the information to be included in a press release:

7.2.1. regarding the conditions that have led to the adoption of a decision on the declaring of the appropriate terrorism threat level;

7.2.2. regarding the measures to be taken by the residents in order to prevent the terrorism threat and to reduce the possible consequences thereof; and

7.2.3. regarding the telephone numbers of the responsible institutions, which the residents can call to obtain additional information, turn to the institutions for help, and inform of suspicious activities that might be indicative of a possible terrorism threat.

8. The Ministry of the Interior shall:

8.1. prepare and disseminate to the mass media a press release on the declaring of a terrorism threat level; and

8.2. place information on the declared terrorism threat level on the Internet home page of the Ministry.

Prime Minister A. Kalvītis

Minister for the Interior I. Godmanis

Translation © 2008 Tulkošanas un terminoloģijas centrs (Translation and Terminology Centre)