The National Security Bill being discussed in the parliament gives excessive powers to security forces, Amnesty International has said.

The bill proposes officers can arrest without a warrant, and also offers immunity for the NSS, stipulating that “no criminal proceedings” can be taken against members without permission from the minister.

The human rights group told the AFP news agency that if the bill is passed into law, security forces will have the powers to arrest, seize property and conduct searches without a warrant.

The proposal to set down powers of the National Security Service in the country would give “excessive powers of arrest, detention, search and seizure,” the rights group said.

Amnesty International says the bill would not allow for criminal proceedings against members of the security forces without permission from the minister.

The national security “will be granted sweeping powers to arrest, detain, seize property and conduct searches if a fundamentally flawed bill currently before parliament becomes law,” Amnesty`s Elizabeth Deng said.

Members of Parliament are divided over the bill, with some saying that human rights institutions such as the Human Rights Commission must first be consulted before passing it into law.