XN000022-1994-10-26 — Page 60

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994

I NOTE THE CONCERN EXPRESSED BY MR JAMES TO ABOUT THE NEED то PRESERVE EXPERIENCE AND CONTINUITY IN THE POLICE FORCE. IN FACT, THE POLICE NO LONGER HAVE A SIGNIFICANT WASTAGE PROBLEM, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 10 YEARS, THE STRENGTH OF THE POLICE FORCE IS VERY CLOSE TO ITS FULL ESTABLISHMENT. PREMATURE WASTAGE HAS DECREASED IN RECENT YEARS BY MORE THAN 35 PER CENT, FROM 120 PER MONTH IN 1990 TO 75 FER MONTH THIS YEAR. IN A FORCE OF OVER 27,000 MEN AND WOMEN, THIS FIGURE IS LOW, PROBABLY AS LOW AS CAN REASONABLY BE EXPECTED. THE DROP IN WASTAGE IS DUE IN LARGE PART TO THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS. WE AWARDED A SPECIAL PAY INCREASE TO JPOS IN 1991. WE ARE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL QUARTERS TO MEET THE DEMAND OF ALL ENTITLED POLICE OFFICERS; WE ARE ALSO UPGRADING THE STANDARDS OF OLD QUARTERS. WTH THE PLANNED COMPLETION OF 400 MARRIED POLICE QUARTERS IN WONG TAI SIN BY MID-1996 AND ANOTHER 800 QUARTERS IN

CHAI WAN AND NGAU CHI WAN BY EARLY 1997,

WILL HAVE VIRTUALLY ELIMINATED THE PRESENT SHORTFALL.

WE

I DO NOT PRETEND THAT THE LAW AND ORDER SITUATION IS PERFECT, NOR DENY THAT THERE ARE PROBLEM AREAS WHICH WE NEED TO TACKLE MORE EFFECTIVELY. SOME ASPECTS WARRANT PARTICULAR CONCERN; ONE IS JUVENILE CRIME. THE JUVENILE OFFENDER RATE HAS INCREASED BY NEARLY 10 PER CENT IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, AS COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR. THE RISE IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO MORE JUVENILES BEING ARRESTED FOR SHOPTHEFT, MISCELLANEOUS THEFT AND OFFENCES RELATING

TO UNLAWFUL SOCIETIES. WE WILL HAVE TO DEVOTE MORE EFFORT TOWARDS PREVENTING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FROM BECOMING INVOLVED IN CRIME AND FROM FALLING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF TRIADS AND GANGS. IN 1992, THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE COMMISSIONED A STUDY INTO THE SOCIAL CAUSES OF JUVENILE CRIME, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. IT' SHOULD POINT TO NEW INITIATIVES WHICH WE SHOULD TAKE TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM OF JUVENILE CRIME. BUT THE POLICE ARE ALREADY TAKING VIGOROUS ACTION AGAINST THIS PROBLEM OF JUVENILE INVOLVEMENT WITH TRIADS. THEY HAVE SET UP SCHOOL SUPPORT TEAMS TO VISIT SCHOOLS ON A REGULAR BASIS ΤΟ DISSEMINATE ANTI-TRIAD INFORMATION, TO INVESTIGATE REPORTS RELATING TO TRIAD ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS, ΤΟ IDENTIFY, AND IF POSSIBLE, ARREST TRIAD RECRUITERS. THE POLICE HAVE ALSO DEPLOYED MORE OFFICERS IN THE VICINITY OF SCHOOLS AND OTHER PLACES FREQUENTED BY STUDENTS; THEY ARE LIAISING CLOSELY WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, PARENT-TEACHER

YOUTH ORGANISATIONS.

ASSOCATIONS AND

ANOTHER AREA OF PARTICULAR L'ONCERN IS DRUG ABUSE BY ADOLESCENTS. IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1994, THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ABUSE RECEIVED REPORTS ON NEARLY 2,500 DRUG ABUSERS AGED UNDER 21. THIS REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 44 PER CENT OVER THE NUMBER OF REPORTS RECEIVED DURING THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

/ALTHOUGH ONLY

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