Practical Guide to Improving Criminal Investigations: A New Building Block for Effective and Just Justice
On Wednesday morning, April 23, 2025, in Marrakech, the Public Prosecutor and President of the Public Prosecution Authority, Hassan Daki, launched the national meeting to present the Practical Guide for Improving Criminal Investigations. The two-day event featured substantial participation from public prosecution officials, security leaders, and gendarmerie representatives, reflecting Morocco’s commitment to establishing principles of effective and fair criminal justice.
The meeting is part of an ongoing series of coordination and joint training between the Public Prosecution Authority, the General Directorate of National Security, and the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance, with the guide being presented as a unified reference document for work methodologies among various actors in the criminal justice system, focusing on enhancing investigations, building trust in the judiciary, and respecting human rights.
In his opening remarks, the Public Prosecutor expressed pride in the progress made in training sessions since their inception in 2021, noting that the new guide is the result of a central team that worked closely with the public prosecution, national security, and the royal gendarmerie to improve performance quality and achieve efficiency by integrating best practices and recommendations from previous meetings.
The Public Prosecutor presented significant statistical data documenting the success of regional and local committees in implementing the recommendations from previous training sessions, notably achieving an 88% completion rate of all complaints registered in 2024 and clearing 94% of active reports during the same year, all within legally established timeframes, reflecting a noticeable improvement in managing judicial and security files.
The judicial official confirmed that the preparation of the guide relied on constitutional and international references, chiefly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, international conventions against torture, and United Nations guidelines, aimed at achieving a delicate balance between the effectiveness of investigations and safeguarding individual rights and freedoms, especially concerning the presumption of innocence, defense rights, and guarantees of a fair trial.
He noted that the presentation of the guide is just the beginning of a larger process, to be followed by the organization of regional sessions to monitor its implementation on the ground, urging all security and judicial officials to actively engage in its practical application and enrich it with field proposals that would enhance its efficiency and effectiveness.
He also expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the success of this institutional work, particularly the Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, Abdellatif Hammouchi, and the Commander of the Royal Gendarmerie, praising the high spirit of collaboration that characterizes cooperation among the various components.
The Public Prosecutor concluded his speech by praying for these efforts to be crowned with success in serving justice and citizens, under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him.
This meeting represents an advanced step towards establishing the foundations of an effective and just criminal justice system, grounded in institutional coordination, transparency, and the protection of human rights, within the framework of constitutional respect and international standards.
