Police to revive random stops to combat crime

Police stop a person riding a scooter near a market in Yeongdeungpo, western Seoul, Sunday. The police said it will randomly stop and question people acting suspiciously on the street starting this month in an effort to prevent violent crimes. The practice was revived after being suspended in 2010 for violating human rights. / Yonhap

Police will use random stops for the first time since 2010 amid rising concern due to increasing crime.

The National Police Agency (NPA) said Sunday it has ordered its forces to question anybody acting suspiciously.

The announcement came following a series of recent of vicious attacks against minors, women and passersby.

In the latest incident, a man in his 20s abducted and raped a seven-year-old girl Thursday after breaking into her house in Naju, South Jeolla Province. The suspect, surnamed Koh, has never met the girl before although he knew her parents.

A 30-year-old man, surnamed Kim, also terrorized the streets of Yeouido, Seoul, on Aug. 22 by knifing two former colleagues and two strangers. He first injured his former co-workers against whom he had held grudges but then attacked passersby who tried to stop him.

The incident lasted for about 14 minutes and panicked hundreds of office workers who were on their way home.

The case occurred after the arrest of a sex offender who is suspected of murdering a housewife after attempting to rape her in Seoul on Aug. 21. Additionally a man went on a rampage with a box cutter, injuring eight people on a subway platform in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 19.

Police halted random stops of citizens in September 2010 when the National Human Rights Commission said that the policy was an infringement of privacy and human rights.

The NPA, however, said it will revive the practice, saying it could deter a recurrence of rage crimes.

“We cannot say we will be able to prevent all street crime but the incidents in Yeouido and Uijeonbju could have been stopped if officers stopped the suspects and conducted a search,” an officer said.

Patrol groups comprised of two officers will focus on crowded areas such as downtown streets and subway stations. Anyone who is caught possessing a weapon or acting suspiciously will be taken to a nearby police station for questioning that could last for up to six hours. <The Korea Times/Yi Whan-woo>

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