XN000022-1985-04-04 — Page 4

THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985

THE WORKING GROUP FURTHER CONCLUDED THAT THE CAPACITY OF THE POLICE TO UNDERTAKE INVESTIGATIONS INTO SERIOUS BUS ACCIDENTS SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED. IT RECOMMENDED THE ASSIGNMENT OF A MECHANICAL ENGINEER WITH RELEVANT EXPERIENCE TO LEAD THE MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF SUCH INVESTIGATIONS, AND THAT POLICE OFFICERS AND MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINERS ENGAGED IN SUCH INVESTIGATIONS SHOULD RECEIVE SPECIALIST TRAINING.

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT GENERALLY ACCEPTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING GROUP ALTHOUGH IT HAS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE ADEQUACY OF EXISTING RESOURCES TO MEET THE RECOMMENDATIONS. IT WAS ALSO CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT BE DRAWN INTO AREAS OF THE COMPANY'S INTERNAL MANAGEMENT IF IT WERE TO TAKE UP SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THEIR PRESENT FORM. ITS ROLE WOULD HAVE TO REMAIN THAT OF MONITORING AND ADVISING THE COMPANY ON THEIR GENERAL PERFORMANCE, ALTHOUGH IT ACCEPTED THAT THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE MORE CLOSELY AND WITH GREATER FREQUENCY THAN BEFORE.

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IN THEIR COMMENTS TO THE TAC, THE POLICE WELCOMED THE REPORT AND OUTLINED THE EXPERTISE THAT IS ALREADY AVAILABLE BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE FORCE TO HANDLE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS. PLANS HAVE BEEN IN PREPARATION FOR SOME TIME FOR AN ADVANCED LEVEL TRAINING COURSE IN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FOR POLICE INSPECTORS THAT IS DUE TO COMMENCE THIS COMING JULY, WHILE DISCUSSIONS ARE BEING HELD WITH TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ON MEANS TO TRAIN MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINERS IN THE SPECIALIST MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION. SIMILAR DISCUSSIONS ARE BEING HELD WITH THE AIM OF RECRUITING A QUALIFIED ENGINEER TO SUPERVISE THE MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF INVESTIGATIONS INTO ALL SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. THE POLICE SHARE THE GROUP'S CONCERN ABOUT THE TEMPORARY NATURE OF POLICE POUNDS BUT APPRECIATE THAT LAND AND FINANCIAL RESTRAINTS HAVE DELAYED THE PROVISION OF MORE PERMANENT FACILITIES.

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THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS HAVE ALSO BEEN ASKED FOR ADVICE ON THE TREATMENT OF FINANCIAL PENALTIES FOR BREACH OF FRANCHISE. THE ADVICE WAS THAT SUCH PENALTIES SHOULD NOT PROPERLY BE REGARDED AS OPERATING COSTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING APPROPRIATE FARE LEVELS AND THIS VIEW WOULD BE CONVEYED TO ALL THE BUS COMPANIES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID. HE ADDED THAT THE AG'S CHAMBERS ALSO SUPPORTED THE SETTING UP OF A UNIT WITHIN TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO INVESTIGATE AND ADMINISTER PROSECUTIONS IN RESPECT OF DEFECTIVE FRANCHISED BUSES.

AT THE SAME TIME AS CMB IS MONITORED CLOSELY ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF ITS MAINTENANCE STANDARDS. THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF WILL CONTINUE CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT BRANCHES AND DEPARTMENTS TO DETERMINE CHANGES IN STAFFING LEVELS AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS NECESSARY TO

IMPLEMENT THE REPORT, HE SAID.

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