SUNDAY, AUGUST 13, 1989
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"ASIDE FROM THE OBVIOUS ADVANTAGE IN COMMUNICATING WITH THE LOCAL RESIDENTS THEY WILL BE ABLE TO INTERROGATE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED IMMEDIATELY AT THE SCENE TO ASCERTAIN HOW THEY MANAGED то ENTER THE TERRITORY AND IN WHAT NUMBERS.
"THE FACT THAT FPD OFFICERS WILL BE WORKING ALONGSIDE FRONTIER DIVISIONAL OFFICERS WILL ALSO REMOVE ANY DIFFICULTIES IN INTER-SERVICE LIAISON.
MR ANNING DID NOT FORESEE POLICE MORALE BEING BADLY AFFECTED BY THEIR HAVING TO CARRY OUT BORDER DUTIES.
WILL CONSTITUTE
"POLICE OFFICERS ARE ALREADY USED TO WORKING IRREGULAR AND SOMETIMES UNSOCIAL HOURS. FOR THE VAST MAJORITY THIS A NEW AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY WITH NEW DUTIES WHICH SHOULD ADD INTEREST AND INCENTIVE TO DO THE JOB EFFECTIVELY.
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"ON FULL RESUMPTION OF BORDER DUTIES THE ATTACHMENT WILL BE RELATIVELY SHORT - 12 WEEKS. HAVING ALREADY UNDERTAKEN THE FULL 12 WEEKS QUOTA OF PTU INTERNAL SECURITY TRAINING, AND A FURTHER MONTH'S FAMILIARISATION TRAINING IN READINESS FOR THE BORDER COMMITMENTS, OFFICERS WILL BE FIT, KEEN AND ACTIVE AND A SPELL IN THE COUNTRYSIDE SHOULD PRODUCE NO PHYSICAL STRAIN,
"THEY WILL FOLLOW THE BORDER DUTIES WITH A FOUR WEEK QUICK REACTION FORCE PHASE WITH FPD BEFORE RETURNING TO THEIR PARENT REGION FOR A 20 WEEK CYCLE AS A POLICE TACTICAL UNIT COMPANY.
ASKED WHAT EXTRA TRAINING WOULD BE REQUIRED IN PREPARATION FOR THE RESUMPTION OF BORDER DUTIES, MR ANNING SAID THE MONTH'S FAMILIARISATION TRAINING WITH THE FPD WOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE USE AND INTERPRETATION OF VARIOUS TECHNICAL AIDS NOW IN USE.
"AS THE BORDER WILL BE NEW GROUND FOR THE MAJORITY OF OFFICERS THEY WILL ALSO BE GIVEN AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUAINT THEMSELVES WITH CLOSED AREA IN WHICH THEY WILL HAVE TO WORK.
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TURNING TO THE SIZE OF THE FIELD PATROL DETACHMENT, MR ANNING SAID THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT ON THE NEED FOR SIX COMPANIES 1,020 MEN HAD BEEN BASED ON THE THEN KNOWN MILITARY DEPLOYMENT. HOWEVER IT HAD BEEN DECIDED TO RAISE FIVE COMPANIES INITIALLY AND REVIEW THE NEED TO RAISE A SIXTH IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE.
"ON THE TOP OF THIS, THERE WILL BE A TRAINING AND ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS WHICH WILL AMOUNT TO 150 OFFICERS. THERE WILL BE PHASED TAKE-OVER OF BORDER COMMITMENT STARTING TOWARDS THE END OF NEXT YEAR WHEN THE FIRST COMPANY IS DEPLOYED AND GRADUALLY BUILDING UP UNTIL THE FULL RESUMPTION OF DUTIES BY 1993."
ASKED IF HE THOUGHT RECENT EVENTS IN CHINA WOULD HAVE ANY LONG TERM EFFECT ON THE OVERALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION SITUATION, HR ANNING SAID THAT FIGURES HAD BEEN RUNNING LOWER SO FAR THIS YEAR COMPARED WITH CORRESPONDING MONTHS IN 1988 AND THIS HAD APPLIED BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE JUNE 4 EVENTS IN PEKING.
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