Police moving to allow shooting at fleeing suspects

SEOUL, July 22 (Yonhap) -- Police said Friday they are pushing to introduce a new policy manual allowing shooting at serious criminal suspects who attempt to flee police, a move expected to trigger outcries from human rights groups. The new manual on pistol use policy, which the police are now preparing, includes instructions to open fire at fleeing criminal suspects after firing warning shots, according to the National Police Agency (NPA). But the gun firing will only be permitted in cases where either the suspect is highly likely to be a felon, like a murderer, or the suspect's violent car driving is clearly determined to pose serious risks to general citizens' lives and health, the police noted. Shooting will be also acceptable when police are otherwise unable to defend their own or citizens' lives or stop suspects from fleeing, according to the police. Still, police will be prohibited from shooting when the target is indoors or surrounded by explosives, crowds of people, or in heavy traffic areas, they added. The envisioned pistol policy comes as the highest court ruled in 2003 in favor of a police officer charged with shooting and wounding a fleeing suspect. "The shooting policy does not apply to a normal (non-violent) fleeing attempt," a high-ranking NPA official said. The final version could be revised following consultations with human rights groups and civil activists, he said. The new measure met with strong resistance from human rights defenders fearing it will increase misuse and abuse of police shootings.