Support for criminal investigation services in Pakistan
Project description
Title: Support for criminal investigation services in Pakistan
Commissioned by: German Federal Foreign Office (AA)
Country: Pakistan
Lead executing agency: The Police of Punjab; The Police of Sindh; The Punjab Criminal Prosecution Service; The Sindh Criminal Prosecution Service; The National Police Bureau
Overall term: 2015 to 2016
Context
For many years, Pakistan has been affected by instability, political unrest and acts of terrorism. Rising crime rates, particularly organised crime, in commercial and cultural hubs like Karachi and Lahore, are adding to the citizens’ daily worries. Despite their ongoing efforts to improve the situation, the provincial and federal governments appear to be struggling to win the fight against crime and terrorism. Law enforcement officers are often perceived as lacking investigation skills and professionalism. Systematic trainings in modern methods and techniques of investigation evidence collection are missing. Investigative agencies are in dire need of institutional modernisation and reform. There is little cooperation and coordination between police and prosecutors at the investigation stage. This often leads to unsuccessful arrests and failed convictions. Moreover, the legal framework for police and prosecutors is largely antiquated and often incoherent. The general public seems to have lost confidence in the ability of investigation and prosecution agencies to solve and prosecute crimes. People also doubt the justice of the outcomes in many criminal cases, questioning their adherence to the rule of law and human rights.
Efficient and strategic approaches to criminal investigations and to the subsequent prosecution of criminals are of paramount importance for lasting stability and peace in Pakistan and the wider region. It is important to build up the capacities of relevant actors and institutions in the criminal investigation sector, and to improve the legal framework.
Objective
In the provinces of Punjab and Sindh, and at federal level, the institutional and individual capacities of the police and prosecutors have been strengthened for the collection and preservation of evidence. The admissibility in court of evidence collected during investigations has increased. Public confidence in the efficacy of the criminal justice system has been rebuilt.
Approach
The project operates on three levels, the legal framework, on organisational structures and human resources:
1. Adressing the legal framework for criminal investigation
The project provides expert advice to senior police officers and prosecutors in identifying potential areas for legal reform. This also includes a detailed analysis of current police and prosecutorial laws, rules and regulations. National and international technical support is extended to jointly draft reform proposals with the partner institutions.
2. Strengthening police investigations in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh
The project advises the senior leadership of the Punjab and Sindh police forces on organisational processes and procedures. In particular, it is assisting the partner institutions in developing a systemic approach to criminal investigations, including evidence collection and a related careers service. It places special focus on the institutionalisation of processes and procedures developed and optimised jointly by the project and its partners.
The project also supports cooperation between police and prosecutors by arranging dialogue forums for inter-institutional communication and coordination. The exchange of information between the two services is intended to promote improvements to their cooperation in practice.
3. Joint capacity building measures for police and prosecutors involved in the investigation process
The project provides technical support to the institutions that train police and prosecutors, developing courses and materials in areas such as investigative methods, evidence collection and forensics. It places particular emphasis on training held for police and prosecutors collectively, as well as gender-sensitive approaches in all the courses. It also provides important infrastructural support to key training institutions in the provinces.