'Gwanak Police Station, 2nd Nationwide in Drunk Person Reports, Operates Drunk Violence Task Force'

Last April, Mr. A, who was intoxicated at a restaurant, verbally abused the owner. Despite the owner's request to leave, he ignored it and approached customers, shouting insults and disrupting business for about 20 minutes. Mr. A was arrested, investigated by the police, and released, but on the same night, he went to another establishment, drank alcohol without paying, verbally abused customers, and smashed bottles, leading to his immediate arrest on charges of disorderly conduct. Mr. A denied some charges, claiming he did not remember due to intoxication, but was sent to detention due to the risk of reoffending during the probation period (Gwanak Police Station's case of detention related to intoxicated violence).

The Gwanak Police Station in Seoul plans to designate and operate a dedicated team to address intoxicated violence.

On the 19th, Gwanak Police Station announced that from that day, the Criminal Division 2, Violent Crimes Team 1 will be designated and operated as the 'Intoxicated Violence Task Force.' According to nationwide 112 call data related to intoxicated individuals submitted last month by the National Police Agency to Assemblyman Im Hoseon of the Democratic Party of Korea, Gwanak Police Station received an average of 1,411 intoxicated-related reports per month last year, ranking second nationwide in the number of intoxicated-related reports.

According to data analyzed by Gwanak Police Station itself, about one-third of violent crimes handled by the Criminal Division last year were committed by intoxicated individuals. In particular, among 130 offenders of obstruction of official duties, 108 (83%) committed crimes while intoxicated.

Established out of this concern, the 'Intoxicated Violence Task Force' plans to investigate habitual intoxicated violence cases, intoxicated violence against socially vulnerable groups, and obstruction of official duties cases by analyzing not only the specific incidents but also 112 call histories and searching investigation targets related to intoxicated individuals. They will check whether there are ongoing cases, other cases reported on the same day, and whether reoffending occurred immediately after being investigated for intoxicated violence and released without detention.

Through criminal record checks, they will review whether the suspect is under probation or within a recidivism period, and comprehensively and multidimensionally investigate motives, behavior patterns, methods, and extent of damage. If habituality or risk of reoffending is recognized, they plan to apply for an arrest warrant in principle.

Chief Maeng Hunjae of Gwanak Police Station said, "According to the trend of 112 calls, reports increase significantly from May every year and peak in August. We judged that active response is necessary to preemptively suppress the momentum of intoxicated violence." He added, "Intoxicated violence is a crime that troubles many people such as police officers and paramedics, so even if individual cases seem minor, we will investigate comprehensively and multidimensionally and respond actively, including detention investigations."

Meanwhile, Gwanak Police Station is also collaborating with Gwanak Cable TV Broadcasting (HCN) to request public participation and is planning a meeting with the Seoul National University Student Council during the university festival period to promote a healthy drinking culture.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.