(d)
36 -
what specific measures have been put in place to prevent similar incidents from occurring?
Reply:
Mr President,
Let me first convey, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, the Force's regrets over the tragic accident that occurred in Kwun Tong in October last year. The victim's family has been awarded the maximum amount under the Traffic Accident Victim Assistance Scheme (TAVAS); in addition, they have the right to pursue compensation through civil proceedings. Police officers are required to exercise extreme caution and to give top priority to the safety of pedestrians and other road users when they are in high-speed pursuit of vehicle or in a siren-sounding police car. Proper measures have been put in place to prevent similar accidents from occurring. I shall now elaborate on these and answer the respective questions below.
(a)
The code of practice governing police officers using the siren in police cars is carefully laid down in the Force Procedures Manual, Police General Orders, and the relevant Headquarter Orders. In essence, the code sets out the following:
(i)
(ii)
The siren is used to give proper warning to other road users and its use should be kept to the minimum.
The senior officer in a a vehicle should exercise his/her discretion on the use of the siren, having regard to the nature of the incident to which he/she is responding, the degree of obstruction caused by vehicular or pedestrian congestion, and the adverse effect the siren may have on the likelihood of arresting the culprits at the scene of crime.
(iii) When the driver of a police vehicle has to proceed against traffic light signals in the course of answering an emergency call, he/she should do so only when he/she is certain there is no risk of causing an accident, using extreme caution and sounding the siren continuously.