Vietnam: Ward public security offices are responsible for receiving denunciations and proceeding preliminary verification

According to Article 44 of the Law on organization of criminal investigation bodies 2015 of Vietnam, responsibilities of public security offices of communes, wards or townships and public security stations are as follows:

1. Commune public security offices shall receive denunciations and reports on crimes, make records of receipt, take initial testimonies and immediately transfer crime denunciations and reports, enclosed with relevant documents and objects, to competent investigating bodies.

2. Ward or township public security offices, public security stations shall receive denunciations and reports on crimes, make records of receipt, proceed with examination and preliminary verification and immediately transfer crime denunciations and reports, enclosed with relevant documents and objects, to competent investigating bodies.

3. In case commune, ward or township public security offices, public security stations detect, arrest or receive offenders caught red-handed or wanted persons, they shall seize, hold in custody weapons and dangerous instruments and protect relevant documents and objects, make records of arrest, take initial testimonies, protect crime scenes in accordance with law; immediately escort arrested persons to immediate superior public security offices or promptly report thereon to competent investigating bodies.

Besides, within the ambit of their respective tasks and powers, heads of public security and army offices at different levels involved in criminal investigation organization and activities have the following responsibilities:

- To strictly comply with law in order to ensure the independence and objectiveness in procedural decisions and acts of investigators and other job titles in criminal investigation activities;

- To provide necessary conditions regarding human resources, physical and technical foundations, equipment, funds and other necessary conditions for criminal investigation activities;

- To direct and organize forces for coordinating and supporting criminal investigation activities;

- To conduct activities and apply measures prescribed by the Law on People’s Public Security, Law on National Security and other relevant laws for collection of necessary information and documents in support of criminal investigation activities;

- To organize forces to support procedure-conducting agencies in the application of deterrent measures, collection of evidences and protection of criminal procedure activities;

- To apply measures prescribed by law in order to prevent acts obstructing, or falsifying results of, the investigation and handling of criminal cases.

View more details at the Law on organization of criminal investigation bodies 2015 of Vietnam, effective on July 01, 2016.

Ty Na

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