XN000022-1991-06-26 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1991

SO FAR THIS YEAR, THE OVERALL CRIME CENT DOWN ON THE EQUIVALENT PERIOD LAST YEAR.

RATE WAS OVER FOUR PER

EQUALLY "WE MUST NOT BE COMPLACENT BUT REGARD TO THE TRUE PICTURE, MR ASPREY SAID.

NOTING THAT THE POLICE FORCE WAS WELL AND WELL MOTIVATED, THE SECRETARY SAID THE TO MAINTAINING IT AS SUCH.

WE SHOULD ALSO HAVE

WELL EQUIPPED, GOVERNMENT WAS

TRAINED COMMITTED

EQUIPMENT

WAS REGULARLY

REVIEWED то ENSURE THAT IT WAS

APPROPRIATE TO OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS, HE SAID.

MR ASPREY POINTED OUT THAT THE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC AND THE POLICEMEN ON THE STREET WERE A PRIME CONSIDERATION.

OF

"WE HAVE

INVESTED

SOPHISTICATED, MODERN EQUIPMENT TO THEIR DUTIES MORE EFFECTIVELY.

SUBSTANTIALLY IN RECENT YEARS

ENABLE THE POLICE TO DISCHARGE.

IN

ΤΟ CONTINUE "I CAN ASSURE MEMBERS THAT WE SHALL

DO

So,

НЕ

SAID.

POLICE WEAPONS ARE ADEQUATE

THE TYPE AND CALIBRE OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION CARRIED BY POLICE OFFICERS ARE UNDER REGULAR REVIEW TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE APPROPRIATE TO OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE ALISTAIR ASPREY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HON

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANDREW WONG, MR ASPREY SAID ANY PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE POLICE ARMS

AND AMMUNITION MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE POTENTIAL DANGER TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE EVENT OF AN EXCHANGE OF FIRE INVOLVING MORE POWERFUL WEAPONS.

MR ASPREY POINTED OUT THAT THE PRESENT VIEW OF THE POLICE WAS THAT THE STANDARD WEAPONS CARRIED BY OFFICERS ON PATROL WERE ADEQUATE FOR THE PURPOSE.

"IT IS NOT PROPOSED AT PRESENT TO UPGRADE THE STANDARD PACKAGE, HE SAID.

WEAPON

WERK

HOWEVER, MR ASPREY ADDED THAT OTHER MORE POWERFUL WEAPONS AVAILABLE TO THE POLICE WHEN INTELLIGENCE, OR THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND, INDICATED THAT THEY MIGHT BE REQUIRED.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT WAS TAKING ALL POSSIBLE STEPS TO CURTAIL THE ILLEGAL IMPORTATION AND USE OF FIREARMS, THE SECRETARY NOTED.

/"WE HAVE