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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1984
BUT THE COMMISSIONER HAD INSTRUCTED THAT THE SITUATION SHOULD BE CAREFULLY MONITORED AND REVIEWED EVERY SIX MONTHS SO THAT SUCH A UNIT COULD BE FORMED QUICKLY IN RESPONSE TO ANY DETERIORATION IN THE PRESENT SITUATION.
MR JEAFFRESON REPORTED THAT THE POLICE PATROLLED ON THE TRAINS DURING THE RUSH HOURS WHILE THE BUSIEST STATIONS HAD POLICEMEN THERE ALL THE TIME.
ALL THE NEW PERMANENT RAILWAY STATIONS, UNLESS COVERED FROM AN ADJACENT POLICE FACILITY, HAD BEEN DESIGNED TO ALLOW FOR SOME FORM OF POLICE PRESENCE.
ON THE POSITION OF REPORTED CRIME ON THE KCR, HE SAID BETWEEN THE END OF 1982 AND THE END OF 1983. THE DAILY NUMBER OF PASSENGERS HAD NEARLY DOUBLED WHILE REPORTED CRIME HAD DROPPED BY 15 PER CENT.
BUT HE ADDED, +WORRYING WAS THAT PICK-POCKETING WAS UP BY AROUND 40 PER CENT, PREDICTABLE I'M AFRAID WITH THE KCR COACHES DESIGNED THE WAY THEY ARE RATHER THAN AS ONE LONG CORRIDOR IN THE MTR STYLE.
+SO FAR THIS YEAR, IT LOOKS AS IF A FURTHER INCREASE IN PASSENGERS IS BEING ACCOMPANIED BY A REALLY SUBSTANTIAL DROP IN CRIME INCLUDING PICK-POCKETING.+
A RECENT OPINION SURVEY AMONG RESIDENTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING RATED CRIME AS THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM WHICH THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TACKLE URGENTLY.
NOTING THAT THIS WAS A +NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT+ SUBJECT, HE SAID, TO THIS END, THERE ARE NOW SOME 10 SUB-COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS UNDER THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE EXAMINING WAYS AND MEANS OF GIVING FURTHER SUPPORT TO THE POLICE FORCE,+ HE SAID.
AND THE COMMITTEE WOULD BE SUBMITTING ITS LATEST REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR NEXT WEEK.
HE ALSO REPORTED THAT A WORKING GROUP WAS CURRENTLY EXAMINING THE ISSUE OF TRIAD INFILTRATION INTO SCHOOLS, WHILE ANOTHER GROUP HAD IDENTIFIED THE EXTENT TO WHICH LEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAD BECOME INVOLVED IN CRIME.
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