WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1977
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PANNING REPORT KOOMS POLICE WORK
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MANNING THE REPORT ROOM IS AN ESSENTIAL ASPECT OF BASIC POLICE WORK BEST UNDERTAKEN BY A POLICE OFFICER, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. WONG LAM ON WHETHER GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER TRANSFERRING THE WORK DONE BY POLICEMEN IN REPORTING ROOMS TO CIVILIANS SO THAT THEY CAN BE RELEASED FOR PATROLLING AND OTHER MORE ACTIVE DUTIES.
MR. DAVIES SAID THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE HAD CONCLUDED THAT CURRENT MANNING ARRANGEMENTS HAD BEEN ARRIVED AT AFTER A CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF WORKLOADS, TYPES OF DUTY, ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY, AND THAT THE PROPOSAL TO TRANSFER THE WORK TO CIVILIANS SHOULD NOT BE IMPLEMENTED.
THE SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT DUTIES PERFORMED BY REPORT ROOM STAFF REQUIRED POLICE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE TO ENSURE THAT REPORTS AND REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE WERE PROPERLY ASSESSED AND CORRECTLY AND EFFECTIVELY PROCESSED.
REPORT ROOM STAFF WERE ALSO RESPONSIBLE, MR. DAVIES ADDED, FOR ALL INITIAL PROCESSING OF SUSPECTS, INCLUDING PHYSICAL SEARCHING WHERE NECESSARY, AND FOR THEIR SAFE CUSTODY.
+THESE TASKS COULD NOT BE APPROPRIATELY PERFORMED BY CIVILIAN STAFF, HE SAID.
MR. DAVIES SAID THAT THERE WAS AN URGENT NEED TO HAVE EXPERIENCED AND WELL-EDUCATED POLICE OFFICERS IN ALL PLACES WHERE POLICE ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC, SUCH AS BEAT PATROLS AND REPORT ROOMS.
BUT HE ADDED THAT THE COMMISSIONER DID NOT CONSIDER IT WOULD BE ADVISABLE TO STRENGTHEN THE ONE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE OTHER.
NEW WIDOWS' AND CHILDREN'S PENSION SCHEME
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THE GOVERNMENT IS DRAWING UP A NEW WIDOWS' AND CHILDREN'S PENSION SCHEME WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE MINISTRY OF OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. ALAN SCOTT, SAID TODAY,
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. MISS KO SIU-WAR IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID THE DRAFTING OF THE BILL WAS WELL ADVANCED.
+ADDITIONAL MATTERS INTRODUCED INTO OUR CONSIDERATIONS BY THE MINISTRY LATE LAST YEAR HAVE HAD TO BE CONSIDERED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS,+ MR. SCOTT SAID.
HE HOPED THAT THE BILL WOULD SOON BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
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