WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1976
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MORE POLICEMEN FOR PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES
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THE NUMBER OF REGULAR POLICE OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES HAS BEEN INCREASED THIS YEAR, PARTICULARLY IN THOSE ESTATES WHERE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. MISS KO STU-WAH, HE SAID FURTHER INCREASES IN UNIFORMED BRANCH STRENGTH WERE PLANNED IN 1976/77, AND OF THE 27 NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE UNITS FOR WHICH PROVISION IS MADE IN THE ESTIMATES, 24 WILL BE IN PUBLIC ESTATES+,
MR. DAVIES SAID THAT DURING THE LAST YEAR THE STRENGTH OF THE POLICE FORCE HAD INCREASED BY 1,180 TO 15,400, WHICH WAS WITHIN 630 OF ITS ESTABLISHMENT.
+THE STRENGTH OF MOST POLICE DIVISIONS IS CURRENTLY UP TO ESTABLISHMENT IN BOTH CID AND UNIFORMED BRANCH AND IN SOME CASES EXCEEDS IT,+ HE SAID,
IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE FLEXIBILITY, MR. DAVIES SAID, MANPOWER RESOURCES WERE DEPLOYED BY DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDERS ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS OF SPECIFIC AREAS, PRIORITY BEING GIVEN TO COUNTER CRIME MEASURES.
+THUS, WITHIN THE EXISTING ESTABLISHMENT, RESOURCES ARE DEPLOYED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE TO OPTIMUN EFFECT AND HOUSING ESTATES RECEIVE A COVERAGE PROPORTIONATE TO THEIR NEEDS AND THE COMPETING REQUIREMENTS OF OTHER AREAS, HE ADDED.
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