WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1990
38
POLICE NEED COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE TO FIGHT CRIME
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THE POLICE FORCE IS VERY WELL EQUIPPED TO TACKLE CRIME, BUT IT CAN DO SO SUCCESSFULLY ONLY WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS, MR ASPREY POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH THE OVERALL CRIME RATE WAS LOWER NOW THAN IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 19805, IT HAD INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
"AND OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IS THE RECENT INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME, HE SAID.
SAID
"
ON THE SUGGESTIONS THAT MUCH CRIME WENT UNREPORTED, MR ASPREY IT WAS INEVITABLY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN RELIABLE INFORMATION ON UNREPORTED CRIME, WHICH WAS BY NO MEANS UNIQUE TO HONG KONG.
"NEVERTHELESS, WE DO HAVE AN INDICATION OF THE EXTENT OF UNREPORTED CRIME, FROM THE FINDINGS OF CRIME VICTIMISATION SURVEYS CARRIED OUT REGULARLY EVERY FEW YEARS.
"THE LATEST SURVEY, WHICH IS TO BE PUBLISHED NEXT MONTH, SHOWS THAT THE PROPORTION OF PERSONAL AND HOUSEHOLD CRIME REPORTED TO THE POLICE, ALTHOUGH STILL LOW, IS INCREASING STEADILY," HE SAID.
MR ASPREY SAID THIS WAS AN ENCOURAGING TREND, ON WHICH GOVERNMENT PROPOSED TO BUILD THE FORTHCOMING PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN EMPHASISE THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC COOPERATION WITH THE POLICE IN FIGHT AGAINST CRIME.
THE
TO
THE
HE SAID PARTICULAR CONCERN HAD BEEN EXPRESSED ABOUT THE RELUCTANCE OF PEOPLE TO REPORT, AND GIVE EVIDENCE RELATING TO, CRIMES WITH TRIAD INVOLVEMENT, BECAUSE OF A FEAR OF VICTIMISATION.
MR ASPREY SAID ALTHOUGH THE CRIME VICTIMISATION SURVEYS DID NOT SPECIFICALLY COVER TRIAD-RELATED CRIME, THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF INCREASING RELUCTANCE ON THE PART OF THE PUBLIC то REPORT SUCH CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
"INDEED, THIS YEAR HAD SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TRIAD-RELATED CRIMES REPORTED TO THE POLICE, PARTICULARLY WOUNDING AND SERIOUS ASSAULTS, CRIMINAL INTIMIDATION AND BLACKMAIL, AND ROBBERIES," HE SAID.
MR ASPREY SAID THE
GOVERNMENT INTENDED ΤΟ ENCOURAGE THE
INCREASING REPORTING OF CRIMES INVOLVING TRIADS.
"FUNDS HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR THREE ADDITIONAL ONE-WAY MIRROR FACILITIES FOR USE IN IDENTIFICATION PARADES FOR THE PROTECTION OF WITNESSES, AND ALL NEW DISTRICT POLICE STATIONS WILL
INCLUDE SUCH
FACILITIES.
"THE POLICE
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