less fortunate the aged, the infirm, the retarded and the orphaned. Divisions 'adopted' hospitals, homes and com- munities, cleaned beaches and helped in the distribution of leaflets.
Community service generally, and a helping hand for the less privileged especially, is the Junior Police Call ideal. Here, young JPC members make an incline near an aged persons' home a little easier to climb.
The weekly 'Voice of JPC' radio programme continued to attract considerable interest among members, as did the three weekly newspaper columns and a new weekly magazine, entitled Junior Police Call. JPC councils were expanded to include cach of the 16 divisions during the year, and a central committee was also established. This is attended every three months by PCROS and senior JPC members from each division.
With the assistance of a local community service club, the first JPC clubhouse was built in Kwun Tong, and there are plans for clubhouses in the other divisions. The Armed Services kindly offered to donate disused Nissen huts for conversion to clubhouses.
During 1976 JPC members made 214 crime reports, either to the JPC ‘hotline' in PPRB or to local police stations. The information they provided led to arrests for robbery, assault, drug offences, triad activities, gambling and other crimes. Other reports related to found property or missing vehicles.
Since the scheme was launched in the summer of 1974 police have received 621 crime reports from JPC members a vivid example of the public supporting the fight against crime.
Another innovation was the launching, in December, of a JPC Leadership Scheme, designed to encourage older members and other young adults to volunteer as instructors and leaders of their younger club-mates.
Off Beat
The 12-page bilingual Force newspaper published fort- nightly, free of charge, is primarily a house journal. Its main purpose
is to keep police and civilian staff, and their families, abreast of what is happening within the Force, and to publicise outside events with a police or personality interest.
Circulation for each edition during 1976 was 20,000.
Police Community Relations Officers
As their title implies, the PCROs - all experienced chief inspectors - provide the link between the Force and the public. PCROs are now in 16 divisions.
The scheme has proved of immense value in bridging the gap between the Force and the community, in making residents more aware of their role in society, and in helping them better to understand the responsibilities of the police in maintaining law and order.
The main task of the PCROs is to establish close ties with community organisations, including City District Offices, Area Committees, Mutual Aid Committees, Kaifong Associations, schools, youth centres and clubs.
They project a good police image, offer advice and guidance to the local residents and business people, and oversee the running of executive councils set up by JPC members.
They attend meetings, social functions, meet with people and are regarded as police friends rather than simply law enforcement officers.
One PCRO has been named as one of the 10 most outstanding young people of Hong Kong, and the award of banners of appreciation by the public has become a regulation occurrence.
Planning and Research Division
Force modernisation
As a basic principle, the Force seeks in all spheres of its activities to keep abreast of modern thinking and tech- nology and strategies. Much of what has been done is reflected in this annual report, and all branches of the Force make some form of contribution.
The Planning and Research Division is the main Force vehicle for the enhancement of resources and facilities and, through its various projects, it has become apparent that there is a definite need to restyle and expand the division into a Management Service Division. This will extend the division's current activities to include an organisation and methods capability, a more effective statistical capability and a scientific research capability. If these aims are to be achieved the provision of adequate research funds is essential.
In the context of research, the Force is continuing to develop the excellent links already forged with other organisations in Hong Kong and abroad. Officers have been sent to numerous countries to study schemes which include personal radios, laser beam fingerprint searches, fascimile transmission and the use of video tape and closed circuit television.
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