SATURDAY, JANUA., 1989
SAFETY PEACE DEPENDS ON POLICE, CLARKE SAYS
»
**
THE POLICE FORCE WILL BE REQUIRED TO PLAY ITS PART MAINTAINING STABILITY AND CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF HONG THE REGIONAL COMMANDER, MARINE, MR PETER CLARKE, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE PASSING-OUT PARADE AT THE POLICE TRAINING SCHOOL, MR CLARKE STRESSED THAT EVERY ASPECT OF SAFETY AND TRANQUILLITY THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY DEPENDS TO A LARGER EXTENT UN POLICE THAN ANY OTHER BODY.
''OVER THE YEARS THE FORCE HAS BEEN REQUIRED TO ANTICIPATE AVD REACT TO MANY CHANGES AND PROBLEMS THAT IT HAS DONE SO, S SUCCESSFULLY GIVES IT GREAT CREDIT."'
WITH THE SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE LAST VONTH, THE FORCE, NOW ESTEEMED AS BEING COMPETENT AND EFFICIENT, WILL HAVE TO FACE MORE CHANGES AND CHALLENGES.
TURNING TO POLICE WORK, MR CLARKE SAID THEIR PRIMARY CONCERNS WERE PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF CRIME AND PRESERVATION OF LIFE AND PROSPERITY, AND THE SECOND WAS EXCELLENT POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS.
WHEN ALL IS SERENE AND CALM, THE SECONDARY CONCERN CAN TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THE PRIMARY ONE,' HE SAID.
JH
TO ACHIEVE THIS, HE ADVISED POLICE OFFICERS TO APPLY THREE. RULES TO EVERYTHING THEY DO -- TO BE FAIR, BE FIRM AND BE KIND.
TO BE FAIR IS TO MAKE SURE AN OFFENCE HAS BEEN COMMITTED, HE SAID. THEN TO GO FIRMLY AHEAD WITH WHAT HAS TO BE DONE AND TO HANDLE PEOPLE WITH POLITENESS, TACT AND CONSIDERATION.
MR CLARKE SAID THE WAY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS TREAT CRIMINALS WILL HAVE A BEARING ON THEIR FUTURE ATTITUDE TO LIFE.
HE ADVISED MEMBERS OF THE FORCE TO BE MORE UNDERSTANDING, HOPING THAT THE CRIMINALS WILL CHANGE THEIR WAYS.
IT IS NOT OUR PREROGATIVE TO JUDGE THE GUILT OR OTHERWISE OF THOSE APPREHENDED. LEAVE THAT STRICTLY TO THE LEARNED JUDICIARY. EVIDENCE AND FACTS MUST BE HONESTLY PRESENTED. SOMETIMES YOUR FEELING WILL RUN HIGH, BUT YOU MUST AT ALL COSTS REMAIN UNBIASED AND SHOW NO PREJUDICE.''
IT IS BETTER THAT A GUILTY PERSON GOES FREE, THAN AN INNOCENT PERSON IS PUNISHED FOR SOMETHING HE DID NOT DO,'' MR CLARKE SAID.
DESPITE THEIR TRAINING RECEIVED, A POLICEMAN WILL ALWAYS NEED TO KEEP HIMSELF UP TO DATE WITH LAW AND PROCEDURES, AND IN CASE OF COMPLEX SITUATION, MK CLARKE REMINDED THEM TO STEP BACK AND THINK, USE THEIR COMMON SENSE AND DO THEIR BEST.
A TOTAL OF 19 INSPECTORS AND 174 CONSTABLES WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR TRAINING PASSED OUT FROM THE POLICE TRAINING SCHOOL TODAY.
/4