PUBLIC ORDER
approach, and the provision of services for young night drifters. It also considered the findings of a survey on the needs of discharged offenders, and the publicity campaign of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) in 2001-02 to enhance the community awareness of the importance of their support in facilitating rehabilitated offenders' reintegration into society.
In tackling the growing problem of psychotropic substance abuse by young people, the committee continued to receive reports from the Commissioner for Narcotics on the work undertaken by a multi-disciplined inter-departmental task force formed in 2000. The task force put in place a number of measures, including tightening control on ketamine, stepping up anti-drug publicity, producing a new Announcement in the Public Interest on radio and television, and increasing the emphasis in school talks on the harm done by psychotropic substances. In supporting these initiatives, the committee agreed that the Government should maintain a close watch on the situation and continue with its efforts to counter the problem.
Given the public concern on juvenile and youth crime, the committee agreed that a multi-agency approach should be adopted. While noting that the Police Force would continue to co-ordinate efforts and to implement new strategies for combating such crime, it considered that relevant bureaux and departments should work closely with the Commission on Youth to produce more coherent studies on youth matters and in evaluating youth programmes.
The committee welcomed the Social Welfare Department's report that a two-year pilot project for a residential service operated by Youth Outreach had from January commenced service for young night drifters. In supporting the provision of services. targeting young night drifters with serious problems, the committee recommended that the service be evaluated so as to assess its effectiveness. If the outcome of the review was positive, the Government should consider allocating more resources to the service.
On rehabilitation work, the CSD submitted to the committee two reports on the findings of a survey on the needs of discharged offenders and on a publicity campaign. emphasising the importance of community support for rehabilitated offenders. Having considered the problems facing the offenders upon discharge
such as employment, family relationship, financial assistance and dwelling place, as revealed in the survey report the committee was pleased to learn that the CSD had reviewed its services and proposed various initiatives to facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders. In addition, the CSD had also stepped up publicity efforts with a view to boosting public acceptance of, and community support for, rehabilitation programmes. These publicity activities had also gained the full support and co-operation of the District Fight Crime Committees (DFCCs).
The partnership with the DFCCs remains important in the fight against crime. During the year, these committees continued to organise district fight crime publicity activities in collaboration with the Police Force, with funds provided by the District Councils and other sponsorship. The activities have enhanced public awareness of crime prevention and helped encourage community participation in fighting crime. The DFCCs also monitor the crime situation in their districts and help to canvass public views on law and order issues.
To reinforce the close link with the DFCCs, social gatherings such as an annual dinner and a reception were organised, in March and October respectively. These
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