On the first day of the new Criminal Procedure Act, expectations and concerns are mixed over the police investigation shift
In line with the overhaul of the criminal justice system, the police have sped up preparations for investigations Take a look at the response measures aimed at reducing on-site confusion amid staffing burdens and the expansion of supplementary investigations
On the 2nd day that the new criminal justice system went into effect, the police held meetings at provincial and metropolitan police agencies nationwide and at frontline police stations, focusing on preparations for investigations suited to the new system. With the revision of the Criminal Procedure Act separating investigations and prosecutions, the police's role has grown, and along with expectations, there was also a sense of burden in the field.
Each local police agency, including the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, convened heads of investigative departments to share details of the system and emphasize a sense of responsibility. Workshops and meetings continued at frontline police stations as well, but investigative work in the field mostly proceeded as usual, with no major confusion for the time being.
However, inside the police, there were many concerns about staffing shortages and the increased burden of investigations. The fact that the prosecution's direct supplementary investigations had disappeared, meaning the police would have to handle more cases and supplementary investigations, was cited as a burden. The police leadership stated that it would review the overall investigation process to reduce anxiety in the field.