Preservation of evidence - national proceedings

Republic of Serbia

Criminal Procedure Code

Part II
THE COURSE OF PROCEEDINGS

A. CRIMINAL OFFENSE REPORT, PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION AND NOTIFICATION OF CRIMINAL OFFENCE

Chapter XIX
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION AND SUBMISSION OF NOTIFICATION ON CRIMINAL OFFENCE

The activities of the police authority during preliminary investigation
Article 255
(1) If there are grounds for suspicion that a criminal offense subject to ex officio public prosecution was committed, the police authorities shall be obligated to take necessary measures aimed at identifying, locating and capturing the perpetrator of the criminal offense, preventing the perpetrator or accessory after the fact from going into hiding or fleeing, discovering and securing traces of the criminal offense and objects which may serve as evidence as well as gathering all information which could be useful for successfully conducting criminal proceedings.
(2) In order to fulfill the duties referred to in paragraph 1 of the present Article, the police authorities may conduct the following preliminary investigation activities: seek information from citizens; carry out the necessary inspection of the means of transportation, passengers and luggage; restrict movement of people and vehicles in a certain territory for a necessary period of time, no longer than for six hours; undertake necessary measures regarding the establishment of the identities of persons or objects; issue a wanted notice for a person or warrant for objects searched for; carry out in the presence of the authorized person an inspection of objects and premises of government authorities, enterprises, firms and other legal entities; review their documentation and seize it temporarily if necessary, as well as undertake other necessary measures and actions.






Rome Statute

Article 93 Other forms of cooperation

1. States Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Part and under procedures of national law, comply with requests by the Court to provide the following assistance in relation to investigations or prosecutions:

(j) The protection of victims and witnesses and the preservation of evidence;