REVIEW
Crime The Creeping Fear
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More than 120 years ago, when Captain William Caine of Her Majesty's 16th Regiment of Foot organised Hong Kong's first Police Force, crime thrived. High- way robberies and burglaries went on daily-even the governor was robbed-piracy flourished and the menace of Triad societies was everywhere. By nightfall the streets were deserted and police patrolled with loaded muskets.
In an attempt to counter crime, punishment was severe. Flogging was common and the 'cat' was administered freely. Gradually, as police strength grew, the forces of law and order gained the upper hand and, at the turn of the century, the com- munity went about its daily business with a sense of security.
That situation prevailed until relatively recently. But in the last four years there has been a marked increase in crime, particularly violent crime which has risen at the alarming rate of 135 per cent during that period.
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The root causes of this state of affairs are complex and there is no easy way to solve the problem.
Whatever the cause might be, it was clear that a creeping fear of violence was beginning to disturb the community, and that it had become a prime duty of the government to redress the situation. As Sir Murray MacLehose pointed out, pros- perity and social progress were of little value unless there was an accompanying feeling of safety and peace of mind. Plans for advances in housing, social welfare, education and increased recreational facilities might have an effect on crime in the long term, but short-term measures were necessary to bring immediate relief. These, it was felt, should be based on the principle of deterrence by fear of detection; and this required both an increased police presence on the streets and improved co- operation from and with the public.
Most important among the measures announced, is a plan to greatly enlarge the auxiliary police force and turn it into a permanent part-time citizens' constabulary which will be deployed on a neighbourhood basis with men patrolling areas in which they live and know intimately. Such a force will go some way to meet the call from some quarters for a vigilante organisation. More important, it should encourage greater public involvement and more responsible public support for the forces of law and order. Of equal importance are plans to raise the strength of the regular force and, by reorganisation, to transfer to the fight against crime as many men as possible whose present jobs could be done by civilians.
Another proposal which aims to improve the quality and quantity of recruitment to the regular police force is the establishment of a cadet school with a curriculum. significantly geared to life in a disciplined service. It will offer a two-year course at secondary level to 16 to 18-year-olds.
The legal armoury has also been reinforced. The Crown now has taken the right to appeal against sentences it considers inadequate. A new detention centre has been established to give short, sharp punishment to young offenders.