SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1987
1
OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY ANSWER TO CRIME IN SHA TIN
5 000 EVERY MONTH IS
COPING WITH A POPULATION THAT GROWS BY BOUND TO PRESENT SPECIAL PROBLEMS FOR A POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER.
DISTRICT COMMANDER HE CONSIDERS THE MOST
CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT JOHN GREENE, SHATIN'S
WELL, AND SITUATION SINCE 1983, KNOWS THE EFFECTIVE ANSWER LIES IN OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY.
SHATIN'S
POPULATION HAS GROWN
FROM LESS THAN 50 A MID-1970S TO ALMOST 500 000 IN TODAY'S NEW TOWN, AND IN THERE WILL BE MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE LIVING WITHIN THE PRESENT BOUNDARIES.
000 IN THE FEW YEARS DISTRICT'S
THAT POLICING THIS TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN SO SHORT A TIME MEANS PROCEDURES HAVE TO BE
OR ADAPTED TO MEET CHANGING NEEDS,
MR GREENE EXPLAINS.
DEVELOPED
ONE
HOUSING
AS PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS
ESTATE { LEK
-
WHICH
THERE ARE
IS ΤΟ
ALSO THREE
BECOME
A
FOR EXAMPLE, IN 1976 THERE WAS ONLY
WELL AS YUEN) IN SHATIN. NOW THERE ARE 13, AND ALSO A NUMBER OF TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS.
IN TAIPO ESTATES AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS SEPARATE DISTRICT NEXT YEAR.
THE CONTINUAL MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE GIVES RISE TO MAIN CRIME PROBLEM BURGLARY, AND MR GREENE PLACES THE ON "OUTSIDERS".
THE DISTRICT'S BLAME MAINLY
ESTATES AS NEW PEOPLE ARE COMING
SAYS MR GREENE.
"THERE TENDS TO BE GREAT CONFUSION IN HOUSING TENANTS MOVE IN NEIGHBOURS DON'T KNOW EACH OTHER, AND GOING, AND THE WHOLE PLACE IS IN A STATE OF FLUX,
THERE CAN BE SOME FORM OF
ORGANISATION IN THESE BURGLARIES,
THEY ARE BUT IN OTHERS THE OFFENDERS MAY BE ACTING ALONE. INVARIABLY FROM OUTSIDE SHATIN.
MEMBERS, BUT THE
MADE, MANY ARRESTS HAVE BEEN
DISTRICT COMMANDER
BOTH OF
INDIVIDUALS AND GANG FEELS THE PROBLEM "WILL NOT
SETTLE DOWN" UNTIL THE POPULATION STABILISES.
IN
UP BUILDING
AND ALL
VISITED
ARE OFFICERS
ACTIVE
SPIRIT COMMUNITY RELIANCE AS A DETERRENT AGAINST CRIME AND, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, NEW GROUPS OF RESIDENTS MOVING INTO HOUSING ESTATES HAVE BEEN BY POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICERS.
IT IS A TIME-CONSUMING JOB, BUT MR GREENE CONSIDERS IT IS WORTHWHILE.
WELL
WHAT ΤΟ "EVERYONE IS BRIEFED ON WHERE THE POLICE STATIONS ARE,
REQUIRED. THIS 15 BE ON THE ALERT FOR, AND HOW TO GET HELP IF
WELCOME IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE GET PEOPLE TO REALISE THAT THEY ARE THEY KNOW WE ARE THERE TO HELP."
ALL
AND
IN ADDITION,