PUBLIC ORDER
117
centres were opened in urban and rural areas, five of them operating as neighbourhood policing units. There are now 119 reporting centres, of which 46 operate as neighbourhood units.
The force continued to emphasise the need to promote good relations between the police and the public. During the year, the restructuring and expansion of the Police Public Rela- tions Wing continued: the wing is divided into two bureaus - one disseminates information on the force and its activities to the news media and the other co-ordinates all community relations efforts.
Other notable events for the force in 1979 were the visits of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in March and the Vice-President of the United States, Mr Walter Mondale, in September.
In July, PC Ho Hing-chuen of Kowloon City Division attended Buckingham Palace where Her Majesty the Queen awarded him the Queen's Gallantry Medal in recognition of his brave conduct during a bank robbery in Kowloon City in November, 1977.
By the end of 1979, the police force's establishment was 20,691, an increase of 1,627 over 1978. In addition, the force had an establishment of 4,089 civilians, representing 16.5 per cent of the overall establishment. A recruitment drive was maintained and 8,533 applica- tions for constable appointment and 2,137 for inspectorate appointment were received. A total of 200 inspectors, of whom 66 were from overseas, were taken on strength.
Some of the increases in establishment had the specific support of the visiting Home Office Inspector of Constabulary, who returned during the year to review the progress made in strengthening the organisation of the force. Police and civilian posts in management services, staff relations, and welfare were filled and other posts were created to reinforce manage- ment and administration.
Crime
三
During 1979, 62,346 crimes (excluding blackmail and associated thefts) were reported to the police compared with 52,387 in 1978. Of these 32,362 were detected, giving a detection rate of 51.9 per cent compared with 56.3 per cent in the previous year.
A total of 23,374 people were arrested compared with 21,533 in 1978. Adults prosecuted totalled 20,733 and juveniles (under 16 years) numbered 2,641, a four per cent and 65.4 per cent increase, respectively, over the previous year.
In July an increase was noted in robberies, thefts, and related offences which could be described as 'quick cash' crimes. There was a correlation between these crimes and a shortage of narcotics on the street which caused heroin prices to increase substantially. This shortage arose from a combination of circumstances: a drought in the 'Golden Triangle', where the boundaries of Burma, Laos and Thailand meet, caused a drop in opium production; increased anti-narcotics action by the Thai authorities; and the continued efforts of the police force and customs service in Hong Kong.
Homicide Bureau
The charter of the Homicide Bureau is the investigation of all homicides in which the alleged offenders have not been identified within 24 hours of the offence being reported. In 1979 there were 67 homicides, compared with 63 in 1978, of which the Homicide Bureau investigated 12.
Criminal Intelligence Bureau
The Criminal Intelligence Bureau serves as the central agency for the collation and dissemination of criminal intelligence throughout the force, as well as having its own in-