Arrests for relationship crimes up 41% year on year
Police to conduct full review of stalking cases through year-end
'Swift separation of offenders key to protecting victims'
Police have sharply increased arrests and detentions of suspects in relationship crimes — offenses committed between acquaintances, such as stalking and domestic violence — as authorities maintain a tough stance on such cases this year compared with last year.
According to the Korean National Police Agency on Thursday, police arrested suspects in stalking and domestic violence cases 43,788 times from January through August this year, up 41 percent from 30,924 cases during the same period last year. Detentions of suspects deemed at high risk of reoffending or likely to cause further harm also rose 15 percent, from 729 to 839 cases over the same period.
Measures to separate victims from their alleged abusers also increased sharply. Custody decisions for stalking and domestic violence suspects climbed 47 percent, from 607 to 893 cases, while orders to attach electronic monitoring devices to stalking suspects surged 388 percent, from 155 to 757 cases.
Police also intensified their response during the Chuseok holiday, when the risk of relationship crimes rises as family contact increases. Compared with last year's Chuseok holiday, the daily average number of arrest warrant applications for stalking and domestic violence cases jumped 88 percent, from 5.2 to 9.8. Custody applications rose 23 percent, from 5.1 to 6.3 per day, and electronic monitoring device applications increased 45 percent, from 2.4 to 3.5.
Police said they plan to conduct a comprehensive review of relationship crime cases toward year-end to ensure no victims fall through the cracks in protection efforts.
"Unlike crimes driven by financial gain, relationship crimes are extremely dangerous because they involve a complex mix of betrayal, rage and a destructive psychological state," a Korean National Police Agency official said. "Police are working hard to isolate offenders from the very start, so it is crucial that victims come forward and report these crimes."
The official added that police would "do their utmost to close any gaps in victim protection so that people can go about their daily lives with peace of mind."
arin@heraldcorp.com
