Police Investigation Reform Committee Discusses Strengthening Capabilities Ahead of Separation of Investigations and Prosecutions; External Oversight Also to Be Overhauled

[Financial News] The Police Investigation Reform Committee will discuss measures to strengthen police investigative capabilities, including forensic personnel and equipment, in preparation for the separation of investigations and prosecutions. It will also review ways to improve external investigation and oversight systems to check inadequate or unfair investigations and abuse of investigative powers.
According to police on the 28th, the Police Investigation Reform Committee held its 10th meeting that day in the conference room of the National Office of Investigation and was scheduled to discuss these issues.
At the meeting, the Police Investigation Reform Committee will receive a report on measures to strengthen investigative capabilities, including forensic personnel and equipment, in preparation for the separation of investigations and prosecutions. It will also discuss ways to strengthen the police's overall investigative capabilities and improve the investigative oversight system based on the current number of investigators and caseloads.
Measures to strengthen external oversight and investigation of police investigations will also be addressed as a key agenda item. The committee plans to compare and examine independent police-investigation bodies overseas, including the investigative body of the Korean National Police Committee and the UK's Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Through this process, the committee plans to continue discussions on how to improve systems for investigating and overseeing police investigations from outside the police organization when inadequate or unfair investigations or abuse of investigative powers occurs.
The committee will also address follow-up measures related to establishing operating rules for the Police Investigation Reform Committee. It is also expected to review a second set of recommendations aimed at improving the fairness and capabilities of police investigations.
The Police Investigation Reform Committee has previously continued discussions on strengthening police investigative capabilities and investigative oversight. At its ninth meeting on the 21st, the committee received a report on current forensic investigation issues and discussed measures to strengthen investigative capabilities and oversight based on the appropriate workloads and required personnel for investigative departments, the time taken to process police cases, investigative budgets by agency, and the legislation of the Investigation Review Committee. 

[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter