XN000022-1996-06-27 — Page 76

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53.

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Reply:

(b)

(c)

Mr President,

(a)

(b)

(c)

what plans and measures are in place to tackle the problem of drug addicts taking drugs by injection in the staircases of private buildings; and

of the effectiveness of the 'high-rise patrol programme' which the Police had carried out in buildings located in crime blackspots; and whether the programme is still in place, if so, whether it will consider extending the areas covered by the programme?

The Police respond to all reports of crime received through the '999' hotline, irrespective of the nature of the report.

Regular Police patrols will detect drug addicts taking drugs by injection in the staircases of private buildings. The Police has targeted known blackspots and will respond to reports of such crimes. In buildings where drug addicts are known to have injected drugs in staircases, the Tsuen Wan District Office has encouraged the owners' corporations or Mutual Aid Committees to step up building management measures. These include encouraging them to improve the lighting in public areas (e.g. staircases) of those buildings.

"High-rise patrols" have long been a feature of regular day-to-day Police work and are assessed to be very effective. Their need varies from area to area, and their deployment is at the discretion of the area Police Commander who will take into account the specific circumstances of the area, including known blackspots. On average, the Tsuen Wan district conducts 40 high-rise patrols daily. These patrols cover, inter alia, those private buildings which have attracted crimes and/or complaints from the public of nuisances involving drug addiction.

End