WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1984
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HE SAID THE POLICE MAINTAINED A NETWORK OF CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE UNITS WHICH COLLECTED AND COLLATED INFORMATION ABOUT GANG AND TRIAD ACTIVITY. EACH POLICE DISTRICT HAD AN ANTI-TRIAD UNIT WHICH CONCENTRATED ON TRIAD-RELATED ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING GANG FIGHTS. ANTI-GANG OPERATIONS WERE REGULARLY MOUNTED, BASED ON THIS INTELLIGENCE.
ON THE SUBJECT OF STUDENT INVOLVEMENT IN GANG FIGHTS AND GANG CRIME GENERALLY, MR MORTIMER SAID THAT THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON UNRULY AND DELINQUENT BEHAVIOUR IN SCHOOLS HAD RECENTLY BEEN ASKED TO REVIEW EXISTING GOVERNMENT SERVICES AIMED AT COMBATING JUVENILE DEL INQUENCY.
+THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY THE EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES,+ HE SAID.
+ THE POLICE ALSO HAVE WELL-ESTABLISHED LINKS WITH SCHOOLS THROUGH JUNIOR POLICE CALL, POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICERS AND CRIME PREVENTION UNITS, ALL OF WHICH HELP TO PROVIDE AND ENCOURAGE HEALTHY LAWFUL PURSUITS FOR STUDENTS.+
MR MORTIMER SAID THE REVIEW HAD FOUND THAT THE RANGE OF THESE SERVICES WAS ADEQUATE, BUT THAT IN SOME AREAS A SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES MEANT THAT SERVICES WERE NOT OPERATING AS EFFECTIVELY AS THEY MIGHT.
HE SAID THAT THE LAST FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN, BETWEEN JULY 1983 AND MARCH 1984, HAD BEEN AIMED AT THE 14-20 YEAR AGE GROUP TO WARN SUCH PEOPLE OF THE DANGER OF BEING DRAWN INTO GANG AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
MORE YEARS IN JAIL FOR FIREARMS OFFENDERS ******
A BILL TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR OFFENCES INVOLVING THE USE OF FIREARMS WAS GIVEN ITS SECOND READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE BILL, THE FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, WAS MOVED BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON G.L. MORTIMER.
HE EXPLAINED THAT PENALTIES WOULD BE INCREASED FROM 14 YEARS TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR RESISTING ARREST WHILE IN POSSESSION OF ARMS, AMMUNITION OR AN IMITATION FIREARM; AND FOR CARRYING ARMS, AMMUNITION OR AN IMITATION FIREARM WITH CRIMINAL INTENT; AND FOR POSSESS ING ARMS OR AMMUNITION WITH INTENT TO ENDANGER LIFE.
/THE PENALTY