ENG-1974 — Page 162

PUBLIC ORDER

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presentation ceremonies at Tsz Wan Shan and Wan Chai-more than $70,000 was handed out to public spirited people.

There were several other measures taken which, collectively greatly assist the fight against crime. Recruitment of regular police is now proceeding at a satisfactory rate, and with new intakes of high quality. This was encouraged by a pay rise which now gives police constables a minimum salary of $1,095 a month. While there is still a high percentage of vacancies in the force, the auxiliary police almost reached its full establishment of 7,000 at the end of 1974.

Civilianisation, including the introduction of a pilot traffic warden scheme, freed about 300 uniformed men and women from routine work by the end of 1974.

Crime

During 1974 a total of 55,911 crimes were reported to the police, an increase of 40.6 per cent over the previous year. Of those reported 25,709 cases were detected, giving an overall detection rate of 46 per cent compared with 46.9 per cent for the preceding year.

There were also more arrests in 1974; a total of 20,572 persons were apprehended compared with 14,480 in 1973. This represents an increase of 6,092, or 42.1 per cent.

Of the total number of persons prosecuted 18,827 were adults (16 years or over) and 1,745 were juveniles. Compared with the previous year, both figures showed increases of 5,873 (45.3 per cent) and 219 (14.4 per cent) respectively.

The Special Crimes Squad continued to maintain pressure and was responsible for bringing 48 persons before the courts for various offences. The most notable success was in connection with a $4.6 million jewel robbery in Tsim Sha Tsui in June. This followed two months of intensive investigation. More than one million dollars worth of stolen gems were recovered. During the year the unit has been responsible for the recovery of stolen property valued at more than $2 million as well as 108 lbs of narcotics and an assortment of arms and ammunition.

The Triad Society Bureau concluded the first part of an in-depth survey on the scope and scale of triad activities, which should prove valuable in the planning of counter action. As a result of its continuing selection and intensive tactical action the bureau has neutralised a number of organised criminal syndicates and disrupted several deep-rooted criminal monopolies. Particular success was achieved against organised triad activities when 37 persons were charged with conspiracy to traffic in narcotics into and within the maximum security prison at Stanley. During the year the bureau was responsible for effecting the arrest of 1,137 persons.

The systematic development of effective procedure to deal with the collection, collation and dissemination of triad intelligence was also a prime objective of the bureau during 1974. The bureau's central index was linked to the Criminal Records Office indices, providing an overall improved information service to the force on known or suspected criminal personalities.