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I fully agree with Honourable Members that a credible police complaints system will increase public confidence in our Police Force. We have introduced a series of measures to enhance the transparency of the system; for example, by empowering the Independent Police Complaints Council to interview witnesses, by installing CCTV and introducing video or tape recording of statements taken in CAPO offices. We are also conducting a comparative study of the police complaints systems in other jurisdictions to learn from their experience, and to see what further improvements might be made. A joint IPCC/Police/Security Branch study team has just completed its visit to five North American police jurisdictions; a further round of study visits to other jurisdictions will take place early next year. At the same time, we are discussing with the IPCC arrangements to implement, on a trial basis, the Lay Observers Scheme, under which investigations by CAPO will be observed by upright citizens, and arrangements to second a suitable directorate-grade Administrative Officer to the IPCC to enable it to observe and review more closely CAPO procedures. We are also drafting a bill to give statutory status to the IPCC. I expect to see all these efforts bearing fruit in the coming year.

I am confident that most of our men and women colleagues in the disciplined services will do nothing to compromise the well-deserved respect which they enjoy in the community. They are highly professional, often risking their lives to protect the community from crime and other adversities. They deserve our thanks for doing a good job.

Keeping up with the Times: Greater Efficiency and Better Services

In a world of increasing sophistication and rising expectations, there is the inevitable demand for quality service. That brings us to our second policy direction of keeping up with the times. All the disciplined departments under Security Branch are committed to a continuous search for new and better ways to deliver their services to the public with greater effectiveness and efficiency.