By Jhoo Dong-chan
Police said Friday they will set up a separate interrogation rooms to protect the human rights of suspects.
They will renovate 50 police stations nationwide into human rights friendly spaces over the next five years, starting with Dongdaemum Police Station in eastern Seoul.
The renovation plan is designed to avoid having suspects and victims meet in the same area.
It will establish a waiting room for visitors in police stations for other civil services to help police officers concentrate on their work while protecting the personal information of suspects.
"It is a human rights violation to expose those not convicted in handcuffs, which can make others believe they are criminals," a Dongdaemum Police Station official said.
"The U.S. and Japan have already introduced such structures in their police stations to prevent possible human rights violations."
Police said it will also replace detention cells' iron bars with clear acrylic panels.
"Visitors are sometimes shocked by seeing their friends or family members behind bars," said the official.
"Those who are locked up in the cell are different from convicts in jail or prison because they are not convicted yet but are temporarily detained for investigation. So we have decided to get rid of the bars."
Police said Friday they will set up a separate interrogation rooms to protect the human rights of suspects.
They will renovate 50 police stations nationwide into human rights friendly spaces over the next five years, starting with Dongdaemum Police Station in eastern Seoul.
The renovation plan is designed to avoid having suspects and victims meet in the same area.
It will establish a waiting room for visitors in police stations for other civil services to help police officers concentrate on their work while protecting the personal information of suspects.
"It is a human rights violation to expose those not convicted in handcuffs, which can make others believe they are criminals," a Dongdaemum Police Station official said.
"The U.S. and Japan have already introduced such structures in their police stations to prevent possible human rights violations."
Police said it will also replace detention cells' iron bars with clear acrylic panels.
"Visitors are sometimes shocked by seeing their friends or family members behind bars," said the official.
"Those who are locked up in the cell are different from convicts in jail or prison because they are not convicted yet but are temporarily detained for investigation. So we have decided to get rid of the bars."
