ENG-1989 — Page 287

PUBLIC ORDER

240

Crime Prevention

The Crime Prevention Bureau continued to expand the range of services it offers to the community in response to all types of prevalent crime. Particular emphasis was given to the fields of architectural liaison and juvenile-related crime, including shop theft.

In January, the bureau launched 'Robotcop' (a computerised robot) and during the year 89 presentations were given in schools, shopping arcades and at police station open-days throughout the territory, resulting in considerable public interest.

In September, well-publicised new procedures were introduced throughout Hong Kong governing the manner in which police would respond on a priority basis to intruder alarms, and legislation to reduce the environmental impact of audible alarms was also proposed. Officers of the Intruder Alarm Inspection Unit of the bureau attended 31 scenes of crime where alarm systems had been attacked and the unit also conducted examinations of systems producing an unacceptable level of false signals.

The subject of legislation governing various fields of security industry activity was pursued by the Hong Kong Government in consultation with the Police Force and the Security Association of Hong Kong, with the aim of providing users of security equipment or services with safeguards.

The bureau continues to promote public awareness of crime and of the counter-measures available. This is carried out in a variety of ways, including campaigns, displays, seminars and site inspections of premises at risk. In this regard the bureau works in close liaison with the Police Public Relations Branch and the Information Services Department in addition to District Fight Crime Committees and a wide variety of private organisations, to mount effective publicity programmes.

Crime Information

The Police Operational Nominal Index Computer System, which is maintained and operated by the Criminal Records Bureau, continued to provide invaluable back-up to police front-line formations and handled some 8 858 enquiries each day.

The Identification Bureau continued to play an important role in crime investigation and detection by providing services to the force in relation to fingerprint technology and forensic photography.

Funging of the introduction of a computer-assisted fingerprint identification system was approved by the Finance Branch. The system will lead to the more speedy identification of offenders from fingerprints left at scenes of crime. The first phase of the project involves the conversion of 180 000 scenes of crime fingerprint records to the computer system which is anticipated to be operational by mid-1990.

During the year, staff of the Scenes of Crime Section of the bureau attended 26 993 crime scenes to examine fingerprints. Staff of the Advanced Technology Unit of the bureau handled 356 cases, using advanced chemical methods and laser technology to detect fingerprints which would not otherwise have been discovered. Identification of a total of 785 persons in connection with 834 cases resulted.

The Main Fingerprint Collection holds the fingerprints of 666 467 persons who have been convicted of criminal offences in Hong Kong. In 1989, 82 974 arrested persons' fingerprints were checked, resulting in 34 230 persons being identified as having previous convictions. Searches were also carried out on 81 013 sets of fingerprints for vetting

purposes.

The Certificate of No Criminal Conviction Section processed a total of 57 339 applications during the year.