Wearing certain tattoos or styles of dress associated with organized criminal groups could be considered an offence under the proposed Prevention of Organized Crimes Bill presented to Parliament yesterday.

The Bill provides for identifying a person as a member of an organized criminal group based on certain characteristics, including tattoos and styles of dress associated with such groups.Wearing the uniform of a soldier, sailor or airman is also listed as an offence under the First Schedule of the Bill. Assisting military deserters and obstructing public servants in the discharge of their official duties are among the other offences specified in the proposed legislation.Responding to concerns over the provisions, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said the Bill would not restrict anyone’s right to choose their hairstyle or style of dress.

However, he said adopting hairstyles or wearing clothes associated with organized criminal groups would be considered an offence under the proposed law.The Bill also identifies several other offences as organized crimes, including offences under the Financial Transactions Reporting Act No. 6 of 2006, offences under the Forest Conservation Ordinance, illegal gambling, advertising unlawful gambling, gambling involving underage persons, payment device fraud and computer crimes.Under the proposed legislation, a police officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police may apply to a Magistrate for an order directing a person to unlock a data storage device and provide access to information stored in it.The provisions also allow for applications seeking authorization to intercept, read, listen to or record postal messages, emails, telephone communications, voice and video conversations or conferences, as well as access analogue or digital data and transfer systems.