At a press conference in parliament on Monday, top representatives of the ÖVP and the Greens announced the establishment of an “independent investigation and complaints office for allegations of assault”. Since then, the criticism has not stopped.
The new investigative body – a corresponding bill will be examined next week – will ensure “serious, thorough and prompt treatment” of allegations of police brutality. This helps the victims, exonerates falsely suspected officials who are not guilty of anything, and thus also strengthens the public’s confidence “in democracy, especially in the executive,” said Justice Minister Alma Zadic (Greens) enthusiastic about intent (see video above). .
Neos: “Is that it now?”
Criticism was not long in coming, however. According to human rights organization Amnesty International, the settlement of a supposedly independent investigation and complaints agency in the BAK on the premises of the Ministry of the Interior is “extremely problematic”. The Neos were also surprised: “A complaint desk for police violence cannot be established at the Ministry of the Interior and fall under the authority of the Minister of the Interior,” says Stephanie Krisper. And further: “After the victims of police violence have waited for years for such a complaints desk and have not been given their rights, should it be now?”
“A complaint desk for police brutality cannot be established at the Ministry of the Interior. An independent (!) investigative body has been agreed in the coalition agreement. Everything else is tedious whitewashing,” said Birgit Hebein, president of the Vienna Greens until early 2021.
‘It remains to be seen whether the Complaints Office can work independently’
The Viennese lawyer Clemens Lahner, who repeatedly represents victims of police violence before courts and administrative bodies, also doubts the alleged independence of the EBS: “The question is whether the complaints office can actually work independently. But as long as it is stationed at the Ministry of the Interior Affairs, which also reports to the police, the impression remains that the police are still investigating whether the police are operating correctly.” .
Lahner pointed out another important point to the APA, namely transparency and the party position of those involved. The EBS should not only investigate cases involving criminal offenses, but also investigate less serious police actions that do not yet fall under criminal law.
“In any case, the establishment of such a research center should be approved, even if there is no global reference model for such institutions,” said Martin Kreutner, head of the Bureau of the Interior (BIA), the predecessor of the BAK, until 2010. “Significantly, such a department cannot and should not do without police investigation and intervention options, knowledge of police structures and close, direct cooperation with the public prosecutor’s office.”
In the past two or three decades, many positive things have happened to the Austrian police in the field of human rights – also in comparison with other countries: “The necessary desired and announced independence of this new agency will have to be lived and proven here as well. “
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
