Judicial Police Officers (OPJ) from Mahajanga gathered at the court of first instance on Friday. Three months after his appointment as Republic Prosecutor at the Court of First Instance (TPI) in Mahajanga, André Andrimpirenena convened the Judicial Police Officers (OPJ) last Friday at the TPI headquarters in Mahajanga Be. This first meeting since taking office reflects his commitment to strengthening rigorous law enforcement.

The meeting aimed to optimize work strategies while reinforcing OPJ cooperation and effectiveness. The agenda and directives from the Prosecution focused on several key areas, including procedural rigor. Criminal and correctional cases must receive increased monitoring to ensure strict compliance with current legislation.

"Strengthening officer capacity and establishing new organization and methods are the main focuses of this session. It primarily aims to improve relations between the Prosecution and OPJ, as well as enhance investigation quality. Recently, child abductions and kidnappings have dominated headlines. We are implementing prevention strategies against this scourge. Special emphasis will be placed on offenses against minors and violence against children," explained the Republic Prosecutor.

This Prosecution-OPJ meeting reflected the reorganization and strengthened judicial requirements driven by new magistrate appointments in Mahajanga.

Missions

The Judicial Police Officer (OPJ) is responsible for documenting violations of criminal law, gathering evidence, and identifying perpetrators in Madagascar. Primary duties include documenting crimes, misdemeanors, and infractions in the field. The Republic Prosecutor or investigating judge directs investigations and coordinates searches.

During investigations, OPJs conduct interviews, searches, seizures, and place suspects in custody. Specialized OPJs also work in environmental matters to combat ecological violations.

The Prosecution and OPJ must work together and harmonize methods to improve investigation effectiveness and achieve better results.