People's Public Security Forces must be ready receive offense denunciation, information about offense 24/7 in Vietnam

People's Public Security Forces must be ready receive offense denunciation, information about offense 24/7 in Vietnam (Illustrative image)

According to Article 4 of Circular 28/2020/TT-BCA, it is stipulated that the investigation agency of the People's Public Security Forces must organize a 24/24-hour crime duty shift to fully receive all offense denunciation, information about offense, criminal case initiation proposal, voluntary surrender, people wanted in a wanted decision, flagrante delicto cases; receive dossiers to handle crime denunciation, crime reports, recommendations for prosecution, criminal case files transferred from other agencies or units; receive dossiers to register the defense for people detained in urgent circumstances, people detained in flagrante delicto cases or based on a wanted decision, detainees, suspects; receive dossiers to register the protection of lawful rights and interests of victims, litigants, accused persons, and persons recommended for prosecution. The crime duty shift is implemented as follows:

• The Office of the Investigative Police Agency of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam organizes the crime duty shift work of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam's Investigative Police Agency. The Criminal Police Department for Social Order; the Criminal Police Department for Corruption, Economic Crimes, Smuggling; the Criminal Police Department for Drug Crimes organize crime duty shifts if they are not co-located with the Office of the Investigative Police Agency of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam;
• The Office of the Provincial, Municipal Investigative Police Agency (hereinafter referred to as provincial-level police) organizes the crime duty shift work of the provincial-level Investigative Police Agency. The Criminal Police Department for Social Order; the Criminal Police Department for Corruption, Economic Crimes, Smuggling; the Criminal Police Department for Drug Crimes organize crime duty shifts if they are not co-located with the Office of the Provincial Investigative Police Agency;
• The District Investigative Police Agencies, divisions, district-level towns, provincial cities, cities under central authority (hereinafter referred to as district-level police) are organized by the Composite Investigation Team; other professional teams under the District Investigative Police Agency participate in the crime duty shifts if required;
• The Investigative Security Agency of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam is organized by the Security Investigation Department;
• The Provincial Investigative Security Agencies are organized by the Provincial Security Investigation Department.

- Units assigned to conduct certain investigative activities of the People's Public Security Forces; commune-level police, ward police, commune-level towns, police stations, public security posts, and other units of the People's Public Security Forces must allocate officers for duty shifts as prescribed by the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam to promptly receive crime denunciation information.

- The crime duty shift headquarters must be arranged at a convenient and recognizable location, with a “TRỰC BAN HÌNH SỰ” ("CRIME DUTY SHIFT") signboard against a blue background and white lettering, stating the name of the agency, contact number, and equipped with a box for crime denunciation information. This information must be publicized in mass media so that agencies, organizations, and the public are aware. Units organizing crime duty shifts must prepare all necessary equipment and facilities to ensure the crime duty shift work and receive citizens according to legal regulations. At the crime duty shift headquarters, the citizen reception rules, duty officer names, working hours, and procedures must be publicly posted. Officers on duty for criminal offenses must have skills in citizen reception, handling situations, and understanding legal regulations, especially those related to the reception, classification, handling, and resolution of crime denunciation information and recommendations for prosecution; receiving and solving complaints, denunciations, citizens' recommendations, and reflections.

- The Office of the Investigative Police Agency of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, the Security Investigation Department of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam; the Office of the Provincial Investigative Police Agency, the Provincial Security Investigation Department; the Composite Investigation Team of the district-level police are the focal points for monitoring and receiving crime denunciation information reflected in the mass media. If other People's Public Security Forces agencies detect crime denunciation information reflected in the mass media, they must promptly handle it according to legal regulations or transfer it to the competent authority for resolution.

- Officers in charge of crime duty shifts or assigned to receive crime denunciation information shall only accept crime denunciation, crime reports, and recommendations for prosecution, not information related to administrative or civil matters beyond the jurisdiction of the People's Public Security Forces. Such information should be directed to the appropriate authorities for resolution (except for petitions sent by mail or through other channels).

More details can be found in Circular 28/2020/TT-BCA, which comes into force in Vietnam from May 15, 2020.

Le Vy

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