XN000022-1992-09-26 — Page 5

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1992

EACH OF THE FOUR PLATOONS IS COMMANDED BY TWO WOMEN INSPECTORS AND HAS 41 MEMBERS, THE PLATOONS ARE IDENTICALLY STRUCTURED AS THE REGULAR INTERNAL SECURITY PLATOONS AS THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS. THEY ARE DRAWN FROM THE FOUR POLICE LAND REGIONS.

THE ROLE OF WOMEN POLICE IN INTERNAL SECURITY AND CROWD CONTROL SITUATIONS HAS RECENTLY BEEN REVIEWED AND IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT WOMEN POLICE OFFICERS HAD AN ACTIVE ROLE ΤΟ PLAY IN POLICING DEMONSTRATIONS OR PROCESSIONS, HANDLING PASSIVE RESISTORS AND RESOLVING DISTURBANCES IN VIETNAMESE DETENTION CENTRES.

"THE FORCE IDENTIFIED THAT WOMEN POLICE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR DEPLOYMENT WITH, AND IN SUPPORT OF, THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS PARTICULARLY TO ARREST AND SEARCH WOMEN AND JUVENILE PRISONERS, A POLICE SPOKESMAN.

SAID

EACH MEMBER OF THE COMPANY IS ISSUED THE SAME PERSONAL EQUIPMENT AS THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS. THIS INCLUDES AN INTERNAL SECURITY UNIFORM, RIOT HELMET, RESPIRATORS, JUNGLE BOOTS AND HANDCUFFS.

THE COMPANY IS NOT ISSUED WITH ANY INTERNAL SECURITY WEAPONS, BUT IS TRAINED IN THE USE OF LONG BATONS AND CS GRENADES.

THE COMPANY'S TRAINING INCLUDES TACTICS FOR WOMEN OFFICERS ΤΟ DEAL WITH PASSIVE RESISTORS, CLEARING ROUTES THROUGH CROWDS AND USE OF THE ARMADILLO SHIELD. TACTICS FOR WORK INSIDE VIETNAMESE DETENTION CENTRES ARE ALSO PRACTISED.

**ALL MEMBERS HAVE NOW UNDERGONE A TWO-DAY INTRODUCTORY TRAINING IN INTERNAL SECURITY TACTICS AND THEY WILL RECEIVE FURTHER TRAINING EACH QUARTER. IT IS ALSO INTENDED то DEPLOY THE WHOLE COMPANY DURING A MAJOR EXERCISE LATER THIS YEAR," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"THE WOMEN'S COMPANY WOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO TAKE ON A RIOT ON ITS OWN, BUT WOULD RATHER BE IN A POSITION TO BACK UP THEIR MALE COLLEAGUES, "THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

0

FIRING PRACTICE IN OCTOBER

**

FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE

HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK

RANGE ON 23 DAYS NEXT MONTH,

THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED NOT TO ENTER THE ARE HOISTED.

AREA

WHEN RED FLAGS

/FOLLOWING ARE