Sexual offenses against minors among top priorities for police, prosecutors this year
In addition to serious criminal offenses against minors, especially sexual offenses, other priorities this year include domestic violence, severe corruption, organized drug-related crime, damaging economic crime, and human trafficking.
Commenting on the decision to focus on crimes involving minors in particular, Minister of Justice Urmas Reinsalu explained, “The goal is to to ensure speedy pre-trial processing for crimes committed against minor individuals as well as crimes committed by minors.”
According to Minister of the Interior Hanno Pevkur, preparedness for illegal immigration must be stepped up as well.
“We need to be ready for the possibility of a great number of asylum seekers reaching Estonia’s borders,” said Pevkur. “When it comes to illegal immigration, Estonia mostly serves as a gateway country for Nordic countries or Central Europe. It is important in the coming years that we establish additional technical facilities on Estonia’s external border to ensure proper surveillance of the external border of the EU. This will include the construction of the border strip and border facilities as well as the installation of security devices along the border.”
Together with the police, security police, and the management of the prosecuting authority, the Minister of Justice and the Minister of the Interior meet twice a year to review anti-crime priorities. The guidelines developed are then used in turn by the police and prosecutors when planning out their procedural resources.
Editor: Editor: Aili Sarapik
Source: Ministry of Justice