XN000022-1989-04-06 — Page 6

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1989

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IN ITS CONTINUED EFFORT TO TACKLE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON YOUNG OFFENDERS HAD REVIEWED THE YOUNG OFFENDER ASSESSMENT PANEL PILOT SCHEME AND RECOMMENDED THET THE PENAL SERVICES SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL MAGISTRATES AND HIGHER COURTS, SUBJECT RESOURCES BEING AVAILABLE.

ΤΟ

NOTING THAT SHOPTHEFT REPRESENTS 43 PER CENT OF ALL JUVENILE CRIME IN 1987, THE STANDING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED VARIOUS PUBLICITY AND EDUCATIONAL MEASURES. AIMED AT DISCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM COMMITTING THIS CRIME.

THE STANDING COMMITEE ALSO CONSIDERED OTHER ISSUES RELATING ΤΟ YOUNG OFFENDERS AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. THESE INCLUDED THE AGE OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILTY, TRUANCY AND THE RATE OF CHILDREN DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOLS, AGE RESTRICTION ON YOUNG PEOPLE ENTERING BILLIARD SALOONS, AND THE NEED FOR A SPECIAL GUIDANCE SCHEME FOR "PROBLEM" STUDENTS TO BE RUN IN SCHOOLS.

THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE WORK OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTRE ON THE REGULATION OF THE SECURITY INDUSTRY IN PRODUCING A LEGAL FRAMEWORK TO REGULATE THE SECURITY INDUSTRY WHICH INCLUDE BOTH THE SECURITY COMPANIES AND THEIR EMPLOYEES.

THE REPORT ALSO NOTES THAT A DRAFT LEGISLATION ON BETTER CONTROL OF BURGLAR ALARMS WILL BE INTRODUCED SOON.

REFERRING TO THE RESEARCH SUB-COMMITTEE, THE REPORT SAID IT HAD CONTINUED TO OVERSEE THE SETTING UP OF THE STANDARDISED LAW AND ORDER STATISTICAL SYSTEM AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MORE ADVANCED INTEGRATED LAW AND ORDER STATISTICAL SYSTEM.

THE SUB-COMMITTEE HAD ALSO CONTINUED TO MONITOR THE LONG-TERM STUDY OF RECIDIVICM AMONG YOUNG OFFENDERS. RECOMMENDED THE UNDERTAKING OF THE FOURTH CRIME VICTIMISATION SURVEY IN 1990, REVIEWED THE COUNSELLING SERVICES FOR THE VICTIMS OF RAPE AND OTHER SEX OFFENCES, OVERSAW THE ORGANISATION OF OUTWARD BOUND COURSES FOR YOUNG DELINQUENTS, CONSIDERS THE FRAMEWORK FOR AN IMPROVED SYSTEM FOR THE TRAINING OF PROFESSIONALS IN DEALING WITH YOUNG OFFENDERS, AND COMMISSIONED A SPECIAL STUDY ON AFTERCARE SERVICES FOR

EX-PRISONERS.

ON

FIGHT CRIME PUBLICITY EFFORTS IN 1988 WERE MAINLY FOCUSSED THE ANTI-TRIAD CAMPAIGN. THE ANTI-SHOPTHEFT DRIVE AND THE

CONTINUATION OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SCHEME.

SO FAR AS COMMERCIAL CRIMES ARE CONCERNED, A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE EVIDENCE ORDINANCE HAD BEEN CONSIDERED AND THE COMPLEX COMMERCIAL CRIME BILL HAD BEEN ENACTED. AMENDMENTS ARE ALSO BEING CONSIDERED TO THE CRIME ORDINANCE AND THE THEFT ORDINANCE TO DEAL WITH COMPUTER CRIME.

PENDING THE OUTCOME OF A TEST CASE IN COURT, A DRAFT FIREARMS AND AMMUNITIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL AIMED AT BETTER CONTROL OF IMITATION AND REPLICA FIREARMS WILL BE REVIEWED.

THE CRIMES