Minister says prosecutors have had to shore up cases in court

Justice Minister Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir told mbl.is that short deadlines for investigating criminal cases had created significant pressure, with prosecutors sometimes having to “shore up” cases after they reached court.

The government plans to extend the maximum period of pre-trial detention from 12 weeks to six months. The change is part of broader planned reforms to criminal law and the handling of criminal cases.

“Police representatives have pointed out, and it is simply a fact, that criminal investigations are much more complex now than they were 10 years ago. The scale of offences is also much greater. That is why we are extending these deadlines,” Þorbjörg said.

She said the authorities had examined procedures in other Nordic countries and were preparing several changes to “level the playing field” somewhat.

Asked whether investigations had been harmed by the short time available to police and prosecutors, Þorbjörg said it was difficult to give a definitive answer.

“I do not have one answer to that. But it is clear that there is pressure when the deadlines are this short. Over time, prosecutors have even tried to shore up the case after it has entered the courtroom,” she said.

Þorbjörg, who previously worked as a prosecutor, said she could not speak for the prosecution as a whole or make claims about its experience of the current system. “But there is a reason why we are proposing this,” she said.