CCPE-BU(2020)4

Strasbourg, 12 May 2020

                               

CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN PROSECUTORS (CCPE)

In your answers, please do not send extracts of your legislation but describe the situation in brief and concise manner, including briefly what is happening in practice.

Introduction

This topic - the role of prosecutors in emergency situations – was selected by the CCPE members in the context of the present unprecedented situation in the world relating to the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. The aim is to address it in a practical way, since prosecutors have an important role to play in emergency situations declared in member States. Consequently, the CCPE will show its response to the present crisis and challenges that the prosecutors face. The Opinion No. 15 will take the lead and illuminate the way in which prosecutors may deal with the present challenges based on European standards. The Opinion will send a strong message to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe about how the CCPE adapts to the new challenges.

Questions

IN YOUR COUNTRY:

General questions

1.    Has there been an emergency or similar situation declared in order to fight against COVID-19? (by which provisions (constitutional, other), part of the territory covered, duration)

2.    Which rights have been affected as a result of this emergency situation? (i.e. freedom of assembly, freedom of movement, right to health, freedom of conscience and religion, etc.)

3.    In case of suspension or restriction of rights on public health grounds, which requirements have been necessary (i.e. legality, proportionality, adequacy of the measures, necessity) and which principles (equality, non-discrimination) and limits must have been observed? (i.e. searches, restrictions relating to media, political parties, etc.)

4.    Has there been detected any kind of discrimination, also originating from private persons, against certain groups (for instance, health workers, racial and ethnic minorities), hate speech, racism, xenophobia, attacks and forced returns of refugees and asylum-seekers, mistreatment of foreigners and migrants, and sexual and gender-based violence?

Questions relating to the usual functions of prosecution services but in an emergency situation

 

5.    How the prosecution service has worked in emergency situation? (i.e. restraints imposed on prosecution services such as teleworking and limited possibilities to get to the working premises, to use the corresponding equipment, to interact with relevant professionals etc.)

6.    How criminal suspects in pre-trial detention have been dealt with? Article 5(3) of the European Convention on Human Rights requires trial within a reasonable time or release pending trial. But if the criminal courts are scarcely functioning, trials do not take place. Consequently, have criminal suspects been released from pre-trial detention? (even if they could have been dangerous). Or have the grounds for detention in custody and custody time limits been interpreted differently, according to the exceptional circumstances - in other words, has a "reasonable time" within the meaning of Art. 5(3) of the ECHR become longer?

7.    Has there been any particular intervention of the prosecution service in the emergency situation (i.e. in the case of Portugal, the Prosecutor General’s Office has been in permanent session during the whole duration of the emergency situation in order to defend the principle of legality and the rights of citizens)

8.    Have there been crisis response teams created within the prosecution service and at which level (central, regional, local)?

9.    Have there been guidelines to address the emergency situation issued for the prosecution service and at which level? What measures have been taken regarding shifts of prosecutors (for urgent matters, or during the period where courts have been mostly closed or with their activity significantly reduced) and the replacement of infected prosecutors?

10.  Has there been specific cooperation with other agencies set up (i.e. law enforcement, courts, etc.)?

11.  Has the prosecution service conducted or supervised investigations carried out by police and other investigation authorities to ensure the adequate protection of human rights in the emergency situation?

12.  Has the prosecution service decided on alternatives to prosecution to avoid overcrowding in detention facilities in the emergency situation?

13.  Have there been any specific modalities for action of the prosecution service in the emergency situation as regards:

-       initiating prosecution (particularly in urgent cases, or cases relating to the emergency situation – for instance, disobedience to law enforcement agencies, health personnel, intervention in cases of domestic violence, etc.);

-       conducting prosecution before the courts, particularly when courts have significantly reduced their activity (have courts maintained their activity, even if somewhat reduced?);

-       ensuring that victims and witnesses and other vulnerable participants were effectively assisted and/or protected and defendants had their rights respected through the whole procedure

-       appealing court decisions;

-       supervising the execution of court decisions and applying whenever possible non-custodial measures or reduction of prison sentences (to avoid overcrowding in detention facilities and to prevent the dissemination or spread of the disease);

-       implementing national crime policy (i.e. in cases where disobedience to lawful orders of law enforcement and health personnel, regarding confinement, may add spreading the disease)

-       carrying out functions, where applicable, outside the criminal justice system (i.e. lockdowns may result in heightened risk of people, namely children, witnessing or suffering violence and abuse, unemployment/enforcement of movement restrictions and physical distancing measures can serve as a cover for discrimination and violence against particularly groups, namely foreigners or vulnerable groups, observation of labour laws and social protection, minimising the risks of contagion of workers and employees)

Questions relating to the possible new functions of prosecution services as a result of an emergency situation

14.  Have there been any new or extended functions of prosecution services resulting from the emergency situation as regards for example:

-       supervising maintenance of public order and security;

-       supervising implementation of emergency measures including confinement of population, closure of public areas and other relevant measures;

-       supervising general protective measures for the population and maintenance of provision of relevant services, including to the most vulnerable groups during and after the pandemic (women, children, elderly, people living in institutions, deprived of their liberty or in detention or confinement, displaced, homeless, migrants, refugees, slum-dwellers, etc.);

-       ensuring regulatory measures to prevent profiteering on foodstuffs, hygiene products and essential medicines and supplies;

-       reducing the risk of stigmatising and harmful conduct against vulnerable groups, including those infected by COVID-19;

-       ensuring the rights of persons held in quarantine or confinement;

-       interacting with media and highlighting the work of prosecution services in the context of emergency situation;

-       informing the population about the emergency measures and the corresponding penalties for their non-observation

Questions relating to the challenges for the prosecution service in an emergency situation

15.  What are, in your opinion, the main challenges faced by prosecution services in an emergency situation and in its aftermath/recovery?

16.  For example, have specific plans been made with regard to the returning to “normal life”? In member States where court proceedings have been suspended for months, there will be a huge back load of cases now to be dealt with. Is it the task of prosecutor to decide how these cases should be prioritised? Will special initiatives be taken, i.e. court proceedings during weekends, extra payment of prosecutors for extra work? Is there a risk that less serious cases will be closed or prosecution waivered?

17.  Are challenges faced by prosecution services in an emergency situation and in its aftermath/recovery related to:

-       independence and accountability of prosecutors in the context of emergency situations;

-       ethics and professional conduct of prosecutors during emergency situations and thereafter;

-       training of prosecutors on working modalities at the time of emergency situations (for instance, for teleworking) and protecting themselves from COVID-19;

-       creation of multidisciplinary teams, if need be (with health personnel, for instance);

-       support to vulnerable groups, which are to be the most impacted by the economic consequences of the pandemic (unemployment, worsening working conditions, impact on economic, social and cultural rights in general, etc.)

-       international assistance and cooperation, taking into account the consequences of the pandemic and the need for a reinforced cooperation among prosecution services (sharing best practices)

18.  What are, in your opinion, ways and methods to overcome these challenges?