Public Order | 359
A series of publicity activities were organised to appeal for public support for rehabilitated offenders during the year. The major events included the joint community activities organised with the 18 District Fight Crime Committees, the production of DVDs for the third series of the TV documentary-drama, The Road Back, and publicity messages disseminated through TV, radio, water and electricity bills as well as posters on CSD's vehicles.
Information Technology and Management Services
Information technology is used extensively in the CSD to improve its efficiency in institutional management, the Correctional Services Industries, rehabilitation services, human resources management, staff training and general administration. An e-learning platform has also been established to provide a variety of web-based training materials for staff. Continuous efforts are being made to enhance the quality and efficiency of prison management and various services through the introduction of new technologies.
The Quality Assurance Division of the department initiates quality management to improve operations by carrying out management studies, inspections and evaluation of services as well as updating departmental practices to bring them in line with the prevailing policy and the changing needs of the community.
Visiting Justices of the Peace
Justices of the Peace visit each penal institution fortnightly or monthly, depending on the type of institutions. The Justices of the Peace receive and investigate complaints from prisoners, inspect diets and examine living and working conditions.
Complaints
The Complaints Investigation Unit is responsible for handling and investigating complaints in relation to the department's work. All investigation reports are subject to the scrutiny of the Correctional Services Department Complaints Committee, chaired by the department's civil secretary. Inmates may also lodge complaints with any senior officers or duty officers of the department; or utilise other complaint channels such as contacting the visiting Justices of the Peace, The Ombudsman and the Legislative Councillors to redress their grievances.
Civil Aid Service
The Civil Aid Service (CAS) is a government auxiliary emergency service established under the Civil Aid Service Ordinance. It has an establishment of 3 634 adult members, 3 232 cadets and 112 civil servants.
The primary duty of the CAS is to provide civil support services during emergencies. Members of the service are trained to perform emergency duties during typhoons, flooding and landslips; search for and rescue people in distress in mountains; help evacuate or rescue victims trapped under collapsed buildings or buried in landslips and combat vegetation fires and oil pollution at sea. In 2005, CAS