At a press conference in parliament on Monday, top representatives of the ÖVP and the Greens announced the establishment of an “independent investigation and complaint office for allegations of assault”.
Part of the turquoise-green coalition agreement was an independent investigation and complaints agency for suspected or alleged police attacks. In October 2020, the Ministry of the Interior announced its establishment for the first half of 2021.
On Monday, “a real paradigm shift in dealing with allegations of police violence and abuse” was created. “This finally gives victims of police violence the opportunity to turn to an agency outside the classic police structure,” said Justice Minister Alma Zadic (Greens).
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, falsely fires suspected officials who are not guilty of anything, and thus strengthens the public’s confidence “in democracy, especially in the executive,” Zadic said.
Criticism: ‘Does not meet the criterion of independence’
However, the new investigative body will be set up in the Federal Office for the Prevention and Combating of Corruption (BAK) and thus an institution of the Ministry of the Interior. The human rights organization Amnesty International sees the establishment of a supposedly independent investigation and complaints office in the BAK at the Ministry of the Interior as “extremely problematic”, as the agency is under the authority of the Minister of the Interior – and thus does not meet the criterion of independence. Amnesty also demands public oversight of the agency’s activities. There is also still a lack of transparency in the ordering process.
In addition, a “civil union” is involved
Zadic stressed the independence of the advisory board, which deliberately includes “the civil union”. This should include sociologists, psychologists and human rights experts. The Advisory Board can go public on its own initiative, make statements and, as far as the investigative body is concerned, report “need for organizational change”.
Source: Krone
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