'Investigator support TF' to launch this month

The Korean National Police Agency headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul [Yonhap]
The Korean National Police Agency headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul [Yonhap]

Police have launched training sessions on the revised Code of Criminal Procedure for investigators nationwide, with the abolition of prosecutors' investigative powers set to take effect Oct. 2.

The Korean National Police Agency said Friday it convened peer instructors from provincial and metropolitan police agencies across the country, along with investigators from its own directly affiliated units and those of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, at its headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, for a training session on the revised code. Peer instructors are officers who train fellow officers in field-response skills and related competencies.

The session was designed to ensure frontline investigators are well versed in the key provisions of the revised code and related regulations — including investigative guidelines and police investigation rules — so that police offices nationwide can carry out their duties without confusion once the law takes effect. A field operations manual summarizing step-by-step investigative procedures under the revised code served as the training material.

Following Friday's session at the agency's headquarters, in-person regional training is set to be held at all 18 provincial and metropolitan police agencies. Video training sessions will also be conducted for all investigation team leaders, and every officer — including those at the superintendent level — will be required to complete related online training.

Starting later this month, the agency will also activate a "step-by-step investigative field consultation and support TF" at police stations, provincial and metropolitan agencies, and the National Investigation Headquarters. The TF will receive queries from frontline investigators through the internal network on the interpretation of laws and guidelines, and provide unified, standardized responses.

"We will activate a nationwide training and field support system to ensure the revised Code of Criminal Procedure takes root in investigative practice as quickly as possible," an agency official said. "We will do our utmost to ensure operations run smoothly and without confusion from the very first day the law takes effect."


arin@heraldcorp.com