TNAG-0815-FCO40-1021-Visit-of-police-advisers-to-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 32

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THE TEAM'S VISIT HAS ALSO RESULTED IN A LARGE NUMBER OF PROPOSALS

TO DO WITH WELFARE AND LIVING CONDITIONS AND ALSO FACILITIES FOR RECREATION, SOME OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO THE POLICE AND SOME TO OTHER OR ALL ELEMENTS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE. A FURTHER POINT THAT

IS UNDER CONSIDERATION AS A RESULT OF THIS ENQUIRY IS THE LIABILITY OF PUBLIC SERVANTS FOR LEGAL COSTS INCURRED IN THE

EXECUTION OF THEIR DUTY. IT IS A POINT OF SPECIAL RELEVANCE TO THE

POLICE. IT IS VITAL THAT PROCEDURES SHOULD EXIST FOR THE QUICK, EXPERT AND IMPARTIAL INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS, AND THE STRENGTHENED COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE OFFICE AND THE UMELCO

COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE COMMITTEE HAVE GREATLY IMPROVED THE

SITUATION. BUT WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT COMPLAINTS. ARE A MUCH HIGHER

OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD FOR POLICE THAN FOR OTHER PUBLIC SERVANTS

BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE DUTY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE GROUND: AND

COUNTER-CHARGES OR COMPLAINTS ARE OFTEN THE ONLY DEFENCE GUILTY

OR MERELY IRRITATED PARTIES CAN MAKE, AND A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ARE LIKELY TO BE WITHOUT FOUNDATION. I BELIEVE THAT

IN THE UNITED KINGDOM THE PERCENTAGE IS AS HIGH AS 95 PERCENT.

UNLESS A POLICE OFFICER KNOWS THAT HE WILL BE SUPPORTED THROUGH

THE LEGAL PROCESSES THAT MAY FOLLOW AN UNFOUNDED COMPLAINT,

SOONER OR LATER HE WILL EVADE HIS DUTY.

WHILE THIS IN-DEPTH STUDY IS CONTINUING, AND ITS FINAL OUTCOME MUST

BE AWAITED, I THINK IT HAS ALREADY BEEN SOME ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE FORCE. CERTAINLY THE FORCE IS FUNCTIONING IN AN EXEMPLARY

MANNER, AND THE DOWNWARD TRENDS IN CRIME I REPORTED LAST YEAR AND WHICH ARE SUCH AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE SITUATION OF FOUR OR FIVE

YEARS AGO, HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED. VIOLENT CRIME HAS DECREASED BY A FURTHER 3 PERCENT THIS YEAR AND THERE HAVE BEEN FURTHER DECREASES

IN THE NUMBER OF YOUNG OFFENDERS. I AM SURE THAT HERE THE EXTRA-

ORDINARY SUCCESS OF THE JUNIOR POLICE CALL WITH ITS QUARTER OF A

MILLION MEMBERS, AND THE MASSIVE EFFORTS BEING MADE TO IMPROVE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE PLAYED AN

IMPORTANT PART. SO TOO HAS THE COOPERATION OF THE PUBLIC THROUGH

THE MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND THE MUCH GREATER AWARENESS THAT

EXISTS OF WHAT CITIZENS CAN DO TO HELP PROTECT THEMSELVES AND HELF

THE POLICE. LAST YEAR 9 PERCENT OF ARRESTS WERE MADE BY MEMBERS

OF THE PUBLIC - A TRULY REMARKABLE RECORD. MACLEHOSE

FILES

HK & GD (6) NR MURRAY

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