PUBLIC ORDER
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Excise Department made 14 827 arrests for narcotics offences, compared with 16 143 in 1995.
Narcotics enforcement resulted in 19 heroin manufacturing or cutting centres being neutralised. The territory's demand for methylamphetamine or 'ice' continued. A total of 46.8 kilograms was seized in 1996.
Since the introduction of the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance in September 1989, and the establishment of the Financial Investigation Unit, a total of $208,950,265 has been confiscated from drug traffickers in Hong Kong. As a result of international co-operation, a total of $19,219,380.17 has been seized from local drug traffickers overseas.
The involvement of young persons in drugs continued to be a major target of the narcotics enforcement strategy. During 1996, amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance were drafted to provide for heavier sentencess for adults who exploit young persons in the illegal drug trade.
Crime Prevention
The Crime Prevention Bureau maintained its initiative in public education programmes within the community. Particular emphasis was placed on advice regarding domestic security and the security of computers and computer data. The new Crime Prevention Bus, fitted with the latest security equipment, continued to promote security in domestic premises at many venues throughout the territory.
The Security and Guarding Services Ordinance, which was introduced in 1995, was aimed at improving the quality of security and guarding services. The bureau has embarked on a programme through which advice is offered to planners at the design stage for building projects. Its capability to liaise directly with architects on secure environmental design has achieved considerable improvements in the security of vulnerable sites.
The new model 'Robotcop' proved extremely popular and there have been increased demands for its appearance at fight crime campaigns, public exhibitions and junior schools. Its anti-crime messages, aimed at the young, promote civic awareness and the danger of shop theft.
Crime Information
The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is the sole repository for criminal records in Hong Kong, housing complete records on all persons convicted of crime in the territory. These records and indices provide details of persons wanted, suspected offenders, missing persons, stolen property, outstanding warrants and missing vehicles.
The CRB also has an Enhanced Police Operational Nominal Index Computer System (EPONICS), which operates round-the-clock to provide immediate enquiry support to all operational police officers. The Bureau has embarked on a programme to improve efficiency and effectiveness with gradual introduction of a fully computerised system to house all records.
Ballistics and Firearms Identification
The number of weapons seized for the year remained stable when compared with 1995, reflecting the continued effectiveness of cross-border co-operation. However,