XN000022-1978-08-16 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1978

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THE GROUP, CONCERNED ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF COMPLAINTS WHICH WERE WITHDRAWN, WAS TRYING TO ENSURE THAT WITHDRAWAL WAS NOT MADE AS A RESULT OF PRESSURE, INTIMIDATION OR BEING UNNECESSARILY INCONVENIENCED.

MEMBERS OF THE UMELCO POLICE GROUP ARE SIR SYDNEY GORDON (CHAIRMAN), MR. T.K. ANN, MR. O.V. CHEUNG, MR. T.S. LO, THE REV. JOYCE M. BENNETT AND MR. WONG LAM.

THE GROUP'S TERMS OF REFERENCE ARE:

*

L

TO MONITOR AND, WHERE IT CONSIDERS APPROPRIATE TO REVIEW THE HANDLING BY THE POLICE OF COMPLAINTS BY THE PUBLIC-

* TO KEEP UNDER REVIEW STATISTICS OF THE TYPES OF CONDUCT

BY POLICE OFFICERS WHICH LEAD TO COMPLAINTS BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC-

*

TO IDENTIFY ANY FAULTS IN POLICE PROCEDURES WHICH LEAD OR MIGHT LEAD TO COMPLAINTS AND

* WHEN IT CONSIDERS APPROPRIATE, TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE OR WHEN NECESSARY TO THE GOVERNOR.

THE GROUP WAS ESTABLISHED IN SEPTEMBER 1977, AND HELD ITS FIRST MEETING ON OCTOBER 10. THE REPORT SAYS THAT A TOTAL OF 20 FORMAL MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD SINCE THIS DATE AND IN ADDITION PRIVATE DISCUSSION TAKES PLACE BETWEEN MEMBERS AND INDIVIDUAL CASE FILES ARE EXAMINED IN DEPTH.

ON WORKING PROCEDURES THE REPORT EXPLAINS THAT SINCE THE GROUP WAS BREAKING NEW GROUND IT WAS NECESSARY TO DEVISE PROCEDURES, SOMETIMES BY TRAIL AND ERROR.

IT SAYS THAT AFTER THE FIRST FEW MEETINGS IT BECAME APPARENT THAT IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL CONCERNED IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE FOR FURTHER CHECKING OF SOME CASES TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY UMELCO STAFF.

THE REPORT COMMENTS THAT THE GROUP WAS CONCERNED FROM THE OUTSET THAT THERE MIGHT NOT BE SUFFICIENT STAFF IN THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE OFFICE TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AS QUICKLY AND AS THOROUGHLY AS IT SHOULD DO. BUT THE GROUP WAS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT OFFICE WAS TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY STRENGTHENED SHORTLY.

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