3
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1975
EXTORTION VICTIMS URGED TO REPORT TO POLICE
******
THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, TODAY GAVE A FIRM ASSURANCE TO THE PUBLIC THAT THE POLICE WILL CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE FULLY ALL REPORTS OF BLACKMAIL AND CRIMINAL INTIMIDATION WHETHER BY TRIADS OR INDIVIDUALS.
AT THE SAME TIME HE CALLED ON MORE VICTIMS TO REPORT BLACKMAIL ATTEMPTS ON THEM SO THAT ACTION COULD BE TAKEN.
MR. DAVIES TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT THE POLICE HAD BEEN EXTREMELY ACTIVE AGAINST CRIMINAL ELEMENTS TRYING TO EXTORT MONEY OR TERRORISE PEOPLE FOR SO-CALLED SERVICES, AND MUCH OF THE POLICE SUCCESSES AGAINST SUCH ELEMENTS OVER THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS STEMMED FROM GREATER PUBLIC CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE AUTHORITIES AND THE VICTIMS AND WITNESSES.
INCREASED POLICE ACTION WAS CLEARLY INDICATED IN STATISTICS WHICH SHOWED A FOURFOLD INCREASE IN DETECTED CASES AND PROSECUTIONS OF CRIMINAL INTIMIDATION AND A THREEFOLD INCREASE
IN DETECTED CASES AND DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF PROSECUTIONS OF BLACKMAIL BETWEEN 1973 AND 1974.
OF THE 773 BLACKMAIL CASES REPORTED TO THE POLICE UP TO MAY 29 THIS YEAR, HE SAID, 561 HAD BEEN DETECTED RESULTING IN 249 PERSONS PROSECUTED. THIS COMPARED WITH 1,612 CASES REPORTED IN 1974 OF WHICH 1,318 WERE DETECTED WITH 468 PERSONS PROSECUTED. THE CORRESPONDING FIGURES FOR 1973 WERE 515 REPORTED, 401 DETECTED AND 246 PROSECUTED.
CRIMINAL INTIMIDATION CASES REPORTED UP TO MAY 29 THIS YEAR NUMBERED 197 OF WHICH 120 WERE DETECTED RESULTING IN 103 PROSECUTIONS. LAST YEAR'S FIGURES WERE 239 REPORTED CASES OF WHICH 159 WERE DETECTED AND 142 PERSONS PROSECUTED. IN 1973 THERE WERE 53 REPORTED, 40 DETECTED AND 36 PROSECUTIONS.
+HOWEVER,+ MR. DAVIES SAID, THERE IS STILL MUCH TO BE DONE
TO FURTHER COUNTER THIS TYPE OF CRIME.+
THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE WAS AWARE OF THE RELUCTANCE OF MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BECOME INVOLVED BUT IT IS TO BE HOPED THAT THE SUCCESSES SO FAR ACHIEVED WILL ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD AND REPORT INCIDENTS OF BLACKMAIL AND EXTORTION AND GIVE EVIDENCE IN COURT IF NECESSARY.+
/IN REPLY TO