Estonia to Add ID Photos of Serious Offenders to Criminal Records

Estonia is updating its criminal records system to include ID photos for serious offenders. The changes come after recent cases where convicted criminals worked with children, raising public concern. Justice Minister Liisa Pakosta announced the new measures at a government press conference on Thursday.

The decision follows incidents like a convicted offender working at a Tartu riding school and another driving a school bus in Rapla County. These cases highlighted gaps in employer background checks, though no exact figures exist on how many dangerous individuals slipped through in recent years.

Estonia already has the EU's most transparent criminal records system. Under the Child Protection Act, people can search records for free. Now, the government will add photos to make serious convictions clearer at a glance. This will help distinguish between minor and severe offences. The ministry also plans to automate background checks to prevent future lapses. Officials will review the current €4 fee for record inquiries. The changes respond to growing worries about pedophiles and violent offenders, especially after a private website began compiling such data.

The updates aim to strengthen child protection by making criminal histories easier to verify. ID photos will mark serious offenders for life in the national database. Employers and authorities will have better tools to spot risks before hiring.