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Measures to safeguard taxi drivers against robbery
Following is a question by the Hon Miriam Lau and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday): Question:
In view of the recent spate of robberies in taxis, will the Government inform this Council whether:
(a) the Police have put in place any special measures to safeguard the personal safety of taxi-drivers; and
(b) the Transport Department will consider permitting taxi-drivers to install safety devices such as anti-robbery plastic partitions in their taxis? Reply:
Mr President,
(a) The number of reported cases of taxi robbery has indeed increased recently. During the first nine months of the year, there were 228 such cases, which represents an increase of 45% over the same period last year. So far, 68 (or 30%) of these cases have been detected, resulting in 66 persons arrested.
We are concerned about the upsurge of such crime, and the Police are taking measures to tackle the problem. Police officers on patrol duties are briefed specifically on the latest intelligence on taxi robbery so that particular attention is given to this crime. In addition, covert observations are also conducted at identified blackspots. Special task forces have also been set up in districts where the taxi robbery problem is more serious; for example, a Task Force headed by a Senior Inspector, 2 Station Sergeants, 7 Sergeants and 47 PCs was recently established in Tai Po to deal with the problem. In the last four months, they have arrested three suspects who are involved with seven recent taxi robberies. In addition, during the first nine months of the year, the Police have mounted over 15,000 road block operations, especially during late evenings and early mornings when most taxi robberies take place.
The Police Crime Prevention Bureau has maintained close liaison with 42 taxi owners' and drivers' associations. The Bureau provides them with detailed information on the latest trends of the crime, and a list of the latest blackspots every month. Taxi drivers are also reminded to keep in touch with their taxi control centres and colleagues regularly, and alert them in covert code when they are in doubt of the passengers' intentions, so that the control centres or their colleagues can then report immediately to the Police for assistance.