Citizen jury system to let public evaluate police response
Police are setting up an internal body to carry out reforms of their own organization.
The Korean National Police Agency launched the "Public Participation and Field-Accompanying Police Reform Group" on Wednesday, holding a signboard unveiling ceremony at its headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.
"Unlike in the past, when police carried out reform on their own, this will be a 100-day police reform effort in which the public participates and takes center stage," the reform group said.
"We will focus on the practical implementation of tasks put forward by the National Office of Investigation's Investigation Reform Committee, which is made up of outside members," the group said. "Alongside this, we will conduct a self-review of overall police operations to identify reform measures and blind spots in management."
The group added that it would "actively communicate and cooperate with external police reform bodies, including the Office for Government Policy Coordination and the Democratic Party of Korea, to support their activities."
From this month through November, the reform group will tour the country, holding "public listening sessions" at each provincial police agency. It also plans to launch an online platform to gather public opinion on police reform. The measures compiled through this process will be unveiled at a briefing marking the 100th day since the group's launch.
The agency is also introducing a "police policy citizen jury" system, under which members of the public will evaluate the appropriateness of police responses. Jurors will be selected mainly from among members of vulnerable groups and crime victims, providing a mechanism for deliberation on issues of major public concern.
A task force made up primarily of frontline officers will also be formed. It will allow officers on the ground to directly flag inefficiencies and workarounds in police operations and propose improvements, with cash rewards for the best suggestions.
The reform group will be led concurrently by Lee Young-cheol, head of the Autonomous Police Promotion Group, and will consist of 15 members in total, including one senior superintendent and three superintendents. It will operate a reform planning team and a system improvement team under its umbrella.
Kim Jong-cheol, acting commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, said, "We will complete police reform that earns the public's trust and the understanding of officers on the ground."
arin@heraldcorp.com
