Police will record audio and video during interrogations from January 1, 2020

This is the main content of the Project on facilities, staff and roadmap for implementing audio and video recording during the interrogation of suspects approved by the Prime Minister on September 11.

According to the project roadmap, in 2019, the overall project will be completed and investment will be deployed to ensure the conditions of facilities, organizational structure and staff arrangement. Because the interrogation rooms of the Ministry of Public Security are currently mostly degraded and only a few are equipped with audio or video recording. Most of the headquarters of the investigation agencies do not have interrogation rooms but use their offices.... The facilities of other ministries and branches are also not enough to ensure audio and video recording when taking statements.

According to the joint circular guiding the order and procedures for recording audio and video with sound,... issued by the Ministry of Public Security, National Defense, Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuracy, officers questioning suspects or taking statements from legal representatives of commercial legal entities committing crimes decide to choose the form of audio recording or video recording with sound. During this process, the interrogating officer can temporarily stop recording audio or video recording with sound but clearly read out the time and reason.

In case it is not possible to arrange audio or video recording equipment, the interrogation officer shall notify the accused and the legal representative of the criminal commercial legal entity. If they agree, the work shall proceed; otherwise, it shall stop.

Lawyer Diep Nang Binh assessed the regulation on audio and video recording in criminal proceedings as "progress"; "a turning point in litigation activities to help people have more faith in justice".

Recording audio and video will limit forced confessions, torture, wrongful convictions and possible violations during the investigation, prosecution and trial; ensure transparency, civil and human rights in criminal proceedings so that the case can be resolved objectively. In addition, it will limit recantation.

However, authorities need to have more specific regulations on the order and procedures for accessing audio and video recordings of suspects, defendants, and people protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the parties.