2008.09.18
Harsh Treatment and Physical Assaults from Distorted Organizational Culture and Strict Police Management are Still Prevalent
Upon the NHRCK’s determination to officially investigate on harsh treatment and physical assaults to the riot police in April 2008, the Commission visited and investigated National Police Agencies in Seoul, Daegu, Chungnam and Gyonggi provinces through interviews and written investigation from May to July 2008.
The Commission determined to officially investigate harsh treatment among the riot police, despite the Commission’s policy recommendation to promote human rights of the riot police to the Commissioner General of the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) in March 2007.
Following the Commission’s investigation, it concluded that the majority of the physical assaults and harsh treatment of the riot police were caused from unreasonable system and practice such as distorted organizational culture and strict police management. Particularly frequent personnel changes of leaders who supervise the riot police, entrusting the most senior discipline policemen with police management, negligence of abusive languages were deemed to be the main causes of prevalent physical assaults and harsh treatment.
After considering all the factors, the Commission reached the conclusion that the landmark change of the conception of the Commanders of the national police agency, persons and parties concerned with the riot police monitoring is essential for the promotion of human rights of the riot police.
Hence, the Commission recommended to the Commissioner General of the KNPA to monitor for the prevention of beating and harsh treatment and systemize human rights education to the riot police and managers. It also recommended to the local police agencies to take disciplinary measures to those who were concerned with harsh treatment.
The Commission made an effort to promote human rights of the riot police through fact-finding investigation in 2005, policy suggestion in 2007 and official investigation in 2008 and it will hereafter continuously work on improving human rights situation of the riot police.
