WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1987
1987
36
POLICE FIRING UNDER STRINGENT GUIDELINES
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A POLICE OFFICER MAY FIRE TO PROTECT HIMSELF OR ANY OTHER PERSON FROM DEATH OR SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY OR IN ORDER TO ARREST ANYONE HE SUSPECTS OF HAVING COMMITTED A SERIOUS OR VIOLENT CRIME PROVIDED THAT NO LESSER DEGREE OF FORCE CAN ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
+UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD A POLICE OFFICER FIRE IN A CONFINED OR CROWDED AREA, WHERE IT IS LIKELY THAT AN INNOCENT PERSON WILL BE INJURED,+ HE SAID, REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON HO KAM-FAL.
HE SAID THAT CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS TO POLICE OFFICERS ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH JUSTIFY THE USE OF FIREARMS AND THE USE OF FORCE GENERALLY, ARE SET OUT IN POLICE GENERAL ORDERS.
A POLICE OFFICER MUST NEVER USE MORE THAN THE MINIMUM FORCE NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE HIS OBJECTIVE.
WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT, HE MUST GIVE A WARNING, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBEY THAT WARNING, BEFORE USING FORCE, MR JEAFFRESON SAID.
+POLICE GENERAL ORDERS ALSO WARN POLICE OFFICERS THAT, IF THEY USE UNJUSTIFIABLE FORCE, THEY ARE LIABLE TO CRIMINAL OR CIVIL ACTION, HE ADDED.
HE FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT ALL POLICE OFFICERS ARE TAUGHT TO HANDLE FIREARMS AS PART OF THEIR BASIC TRAINING. OFFICERS AT THE POLICE TRAINING SCHOOL RECEIVE A MINIMUM OF 60 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION ON WEAPONS AND FIRE AT LEAST 480 ROUNDS OF REVOLVER AMMUNITION.
TRAINING PROGRESSES FROM SHOOTING AT STATIONARY TARGETS IN LOW LIGHT.
AN OFFICER AT THE TRAINING SCHOOL MUST PASS WRITTEN AND PRACTICAL EXAMINATIONS ON WEAPONS HANDLING AND A FIRING QUALIFICATION TEST, HE ADDED.
AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL, MR JEAFFRESON SAID OFFICERS MUST ATTEND THREE FIRING SESSIONS EACH YEAR, TAKING THEIR ANNUAL QUALIFICATION TEST ON THE THIRD SESSION. OFFICERS WHO NEED IT ARE GIVEN EXTRA INSTRUCTION BEFORE THEY TAKE THE TEST.
+UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS AN OFFICER ALLOWED TO CARRY A FIREARM UNTIL HE HAS PASSED THE TEST, HE SAID.
IN 1987 ABOUT 23 000 POLICE OFFICERS WILL EACH FIRE 138 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF QUALIFIED FIREARMS
INSTRUCTORS.
OFFICERS POSTED TO THE POLICE TACTICAL UNIT OR TO OTHER SPECIALIST UNITS WILL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL TRAINING.
/HE SAID
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