Police Improve 'Complaint and Accusation Handling Procedures'... Will Ask for Consent When Rejecting

Immediate Repair Upon Re-request

Police Agency building. [Photo by Police Agency]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The police have decided to make it a principle to accept all complaints and accusations received in the future, and when rejecting them, they will first confirm the complainant's intention and guide them through the re-submission procedure if they agree.

The National Police Agency announced on the 27th that it will implement the "Improvement Plan for the Handling Procedures of Complaint and Accusation Submissions," which includes these details, starting from the 1st of next month.

According to this improvement plan, when an investigative complainant submits a complaint or accusation, the police will, as a principle, register it as a temporary case in the Criminal Justice Information System (KICS). When rejecting a complaint or accusation, the police will confirm the complainant's consent to the rejection in writing and provide the complainant with a copy of the consent form and a guide on the re-submission procedures. Furthermore, if a complainant who agreed to the rejection later changes their mind and requests acceptance again, the police will not encourage a second rejection and will immediately accept the complaint or accusation.

Since the enforcement of the revised Criminal Procedure Act this year, the courts and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission have stated that improvements are needed regarding the police's rejection of complaints and accusations. The courts ruled through a state compensation approval judgment that when there is a complaint or accusation, it is a principle to accept, review, and process it, and that rejection without consent after expressing the intention to file a complaint is illegal. The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission also recommended institutional improvements such as improving rejection reasons, establishing confirmation procedures like consent forms, and setting up objection procedures.

The police have accepted these recommendations, prepared this improvement plan, and plan to continuously manage the establishment of the system.