Police review cyber sexual violence investigations, focusing on victim protection measures

[Financial News] Police will conduct an intensive review of how cyber sexual violence cases are investigated and whether victim protection measures are being implemented at provincial and metropolitan police agencies nationwide. Since cyber sexual violence is among the seven crimes against socially vulnerable groups designated for mandatory referral of every case to prosecutors, the aim is to check whether investigations are being conducted thoroughly at the police stage.
According to the Korean National Police Agency on the 11th, police will conduct on-site inspections of cyber sexual violence investigation teams at provincial and metropolitan police agencies nationwide from the 12th through the 1st of next month.
The inspections are intended to ensure that investigations into cyber sexual violence cases are complete before referral and that cases are handled appropriately. Police also plan to check whether victim protection measures are properly implemented from the receipt of a case through the conclusion of the investigation, and to prevent secondary victimization that may occur during the investigative process.
With the launch of a new criminal justice system on the 2nd of last month, the mandatory referral of every case involving the seven crimes against socially vulnerable groups was expanded. Under the system, police must send a case to a prosecutor for review even when they determine that the alleged crime is not substantiated.
The seven crimes are sex crimes, sex crimes against children and adolescents, stalking, child abuse, domestic violence, abuse of persons with disabilities, and elder abuse. The scope of crimes subject to mandatory referral of every case was expanded to ease concerns that the abolition of prosecutors’ authority to conduct supplementary investigations directly could leave gaps in protection for victims of crimes against socially vulnerable groups.
An inspection team comprising the head of the Korean National Police Agency’s Cybercrime Investigation Division and six working-level officials at or below the section-chief level will carry out the inspections. The team plans to visit the provincial and metropolitan agencies in three groups of two to three members each.
Key areas for inspection include major and long-term cases, unresolved cases under management, the status of undercover investigations, and the implementation of victim protection measures.
Specifically, inspectors will check requests to delete or block victim videos, applications for the appointment of court-appointed lawyers, and guidance on rights and support for sexual violence victims. Other items include interviews with victims conducted by police officers of the same sex, the preparation of statements under pseudonyms, safety measures for crime victims, and referrals to protection and support organizations.
Inspections will also cover measures to prevent further harm to victims, including registering illicitly filmed material in a tracking system, using victim interview rooms and video analysis rooms, and securely managing evidence.
Police plan to hear investigators’ opinions during the on-site inspections, identify areas requiring improvement based on the results, and pursue improvements to the relevant systems.


[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter