From threats with a weapon to threats of rape...Police seek 376 arrest warrants in relationship-related crimes

[Financial News] The Korean National Police Agency said on the 4th that it had conducted a comprehensive review of relationship-related crimes, including stalking and domestic violence, over 12 days from the 19th to the 30th of last month.
The initial review covered 43,712 cases, including cases under investigation, people in monitoring Grade A, stalking reports closed at the scene, and cases receiving safety measures. Including additional cases reported during the review period, police completed reviews of 44,540 cases in total. This was equivalent to 101.9% of the initial number of cases slated for review.

Of the 15,840 cases under investigation, 5,068 (32.0%) were classified as high risk. Applying a zero-tolerance approach to high-risk perpetrators, police applied for 376 arrest warrants. They also applied for 506 detention orders (Interim Measure No. 4 and Temporary Measure No. 5) and 321 orders to attach electronic monitoring devices (Interim Measure No. 3-2), strengthening measures to isolate perpetrators.
During the comprehensive review, police applied for an average of 31.3 arrest warrants per day, up 334% from the average of 7.2 per day from January to September this year. Applications for detention rose 203%, from 13.9 to 42.1 per day, while applications for electronic monitoring rose 193%, from 9.2 to 26.8 per day.
The number of warrants and orders actually issued also increased. Arrest warrants rose 86%, from an average of 3.6 to 6.7 per day; detention orders rose 155%, from 3.8 to 9.7; and electronic monitoring orders rose 171%, from 3.2 to 8.7.
By contrast, the rates of warrants and orders issued relative to applications fell. The arrest warrant issuance rate dropped from 49.3% from January to September this year to 21.3% during the comprehensive review. The approval rate for detention orders fell from 27.2% to 23.0%, and the rate for electronic monitoring orders from 35.1% to 32.4%. During the review period, 80 arrest warrants, 116 detention orders and 104 electronic monitoring orders were issued or approved.
Police explained that the number of applications had risen sharply and that many cases involved applications for arrest warrants, detention and electronic monitoring at the same time, with only some of the requests granted. They added that some cases were still under review, so the rates of warrants and orders issued could rise in the future.

Safety measures for victims were also expanded. During the comprehensive review, the average number of cases receiving private security per day rose from 1.2 to 3.6, while referrals to temporary accommodation increased from 4.2 to 8.6 per day.
Police reviewed 21,614 people designated as monitoring Grade A based on their history of reports and other information, and strengthened measures for 176 people whose risk was confirmed. These included 102 pre-arrest investigations, 25 protective measures and 54 safety measures.
Police also took another look at 6,504 stalking reports that had been closed at the scene without being handled as cases. For incidents where the response had been inadequate, they added 83 pre-arrest investigations, four protective measures and four safety measures. They also strengthened oversight of 582 people already subject to safety measures, including by bolstering their protections.
The comprehensive review also uncovered many cases in which police reassessed perpetrators' risk of reoffending and conducted further investigations and imposed measures to isolate them.
In South Gyeongsang Province, a domestic violence perpetrator was taken into custody after an arrest warrant had been rejected twice and police conducted a supplementary investigation. The man had assaulted his wife and was subject to temporary measures, but approached her carrying a gasoline can and threatened to set a fire. After his detention period ended, he assaulted and confined the victim again. Police uncovered additional offenses through further statements from the victim, reapplied for an arrest warrant and obtained one on the 28th of last month, before the detention period expired.
In Ulsan, a domestic violence suspect who had threatened the suspect's husband with a Chinese cleaver was reclassified as high risk during the comprehensive review and taken into custody. Investigators found that on August 30, when the suspect's husband told the suspect to stop drinking, the suspect rushed at him wielding the cleaver and threatened, "I'll kill you." Police had initially classified the case as medium risk and applied for temporary measures, but the prosecutor did not request them. Police later reviewed the suspect's history of using weapons and past reports, demonstrated the risk of reoffending, and obtained an arrest warrant on the 22nd of last month.
Another police station in Seoul found that a suspect who had been stalking an acquaintance went to the victim carrying a weapon and work gloves. During a search of the suspect's vehicle, police found the weapon and gloves and added a suspicion of preparing to commit murder. After police applied for interim measures and an arrest warrant at the same time, the arrest warrant was issued on the 23rd of last month.
Kim Jong-chul, acting commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, pledged, "For relationship-related crimes, we will continue to make victim protection our top priority and take strong measures to isolate perpetrators, doing everything we can to ensure victims can live their daily lives in peace and without fear." He added, "To that end, not only the police but also relevant agencies will work closely together to ensure there are no gaps in victim protection."
[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter