XN000022-1985-12-11 — Page 29

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1985

+ASI INDICATED LAST YEAR. IF THE PROCEDURE IS FOUND TO BE WORKING SATISFACTORILY, THOUGH CAN THEN BE GIVEN TO EXTENDING ITS USE, + MR THOMAS SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THE FEASIBILITY OF ISSUING FIXED PENALITY NOTICES TO PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT SEATS OF TAXIS AND PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES FOR NOT WEARING A SAFETY BELT WAS BEING CONSIDERED.

+THE PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF OFFENCES DEALT WITH IN THAT WAY, COULD BE CONSIDERED FURTHER WHEN THE RESULT OF THE TRIAL IS KNOWN, HE SAID.

SPEAKING ON COMMENTS ON THE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE EFFICIENCY AND MORALE OF THE POLICE FORCE, MR THOMAS AGREED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE NEED TO SAFEGUARD THE MORALE OF THE FORCE AND THAT ANY CHANGES THAT MIGHT BE INTRODUCED WOULD BE CONSIDERED WITH THAT VERY MUCH IN MIND.

HE SAID THAT THE POLICE HAD TO BE SUFFICIENTLY WELL EQUIPPED IN ORDER BETTER TO PERFORM THE IR DUTIES, AND THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE LAST WEEK APPROVED THE COMMITMENT OF $500 MILLION FOR AN ENHANCED COMMUNICATION AND COMMAND SYSTEM TO BE INTRODUCED IN 1990.

+ IT WILL PUT EVERY POLICEMAN WALKING THE BEAT IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTRES,+ HE SAID.

ON THE GOVERNMENT'S BATTLE AGAINST DRUGS, MR THOMAS SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD PRESENT TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL EARLY NEXT YEAR A PAPER WHICH WOULD CONTAIN PROPOSALS DESIGNED TO ATTACK THE LAUNDERING OF DRUG MONEY.

MR THOMAS ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS NEGLECTING NO MEASURE THAT HAS A REASONABLE CHANCE OF CONTRIBUTING TO THE SUPPRESSION OF DRUG TRAFFICKING AND ABUSE+.

ON THE ISSUE OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SCHEME, MR THOMAS SAID IT WAS ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW THE POLICE AND THE PEOPLE COULD FIGHT CRIME TOGETHER, AND THAT IT WOULD HELP TO COUNTER THE RISE IN THE NUMBER OF BURGLARIES,

+A RELATED SUBJECT IS THE NEED TO IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF WATCHMEN, A BILL HAS BEEN DRAFTED AND WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THIS COUNCIL WITHIN THIS SESSION, HE SAID.

REFERRING TO THE RECENT CHANGES IN THE NEIGHBOUR POLICE UNITS SCHEME, MR THOMAS SAID THERE HAD BEEN NO REDUCTION IN MANPOWER AVAILABLE IN ANY PARTICULAR DISTRICT BUT MORE POLICEMEN WERE NOW DEPLOYED ON THE BEAT.

TURNING TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS SCHEME, MR THOMAS SAID HE SHARED THE VIEW THAT IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

AN

/ ..