XN000022-1992-03-11 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1992

MEASURES TO FIGHT CRIME SPELLS OUT

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY) SPELT OUT A SERIES OF NEW MEASURES TO FIGHT CRIME.

WINDING UP A MOTION DEBATE ON LAW AND ORDER IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ASPREY SAID SOME SUCCESS HAD BEEN ACHIEVED BY THE POLICE MANAGEMENT IN THEIR EFFORT TO COUNTER THE EFFECT OF MANPOWER SHORTAGE.

AT MARCH 1 THIS YEAR, THERE WERE ABOUT 250 MORE POLICE OFFICERS IN THE FORCE THAN THERE WERE A YEAR AGO.

IN

THE PAST SIX MONTHS, RECRUITMENT AT JUNIOR POLICE OFFICER LEVEL HAD PICKED UP: AT THE SAME TIME WASTAGE HAD DECLINED.

THE NET RESULT HAD. BEEN A STEADY IF SLOW INCREASE IN POLICE STRENGTH, HE SAID,

SAID, ADDING OFFICERS WAS

"WE MUST ENSURE THAT THIS TREND CONTINUES," HE THAT IF IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE PAY FOR JUNIOR POLICE NOT ATTRACTING SUFFICIENT RECRUITS, THEN CLEARLY THEIR PAY HAD TO BE

REVIEWED.

HE SAID THE POLICE HAD ALSO MADE VERY CONSIDERABLE IN NEW ANTI-CRIME EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY.

INVESTMENT

"WE WILL SEE THE DELIVERY OF 21 NEW LAUNCHES FOR THE MARINE POLICE IN 1992-93; THESE WILL HELP TO CURB CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES AT SEA. HE SAID.

OTHER ANTI-CRIME EQUIPMENT INCLUDED THE COMPUTER ASSISTED FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM, WHICH HAD HELPED TO RESOLVE A NUMBER OF SERIOUS CRIMES; THE ENHANCED COMMAND AND CONTROL COMPUTER SYSTEM, WHICH IMPROVES DEPLOYMENT OF POLICE OFFICERS; THE CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE COMPUTER SYSTEM. WHICH IMPROVES INVESTIGATION WORK; UPGRADED POLICE COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT; AND THERMAL IMAGERS FOR ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT OPERATIONS ON THE BORDER.

THE POLICE WERE STREAMLINING CRIME REPORT ING ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO FIGHT CRIME, HE SAID.

PROCEDURES

ΤΟ

ONE-WAY VIEWING FACILITIES FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF SUSPECTS BY WITNESSES ARE IN OPERATION IN FOUR POLICE STATIONS, AND TWO MORE WILL COME INTO OPERATION THIS YEAR.

THE POLICE ARE ALSO CONSIDERING IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PROTECTION OF WITNESSES, EXPECIALLY IN CASES OF TRIAD CRIMES WHERE INTIMIDATION IS FEARED.

MR ASPREY SAID THE ORGANISED CRIME BILL WAS NOW BEING REVISED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.

"IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE BILL, WHEN ENACTED, WILL BE EFFECTIVE IN TACKLING ORGANISED CRIME AND AT THE SAME TIME BE CONSISTENT WITH THE BILL OF RIGHTS ORDINANCE. THIS IS NOT AN EASY BALANCE ΤΟ STRIKE BUT WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD ON IT, HE SAID.

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